Man kills nephew, removes organs to make a quick buck. His guide: AI app

On November 6, Ramjeet Ram, a daily wage laborer in Chhattisgarh’s Jashpur district, woke to discover his four-year-old son missing. After searching frantically, the boy was found dead, around half a kilometer away, inside a pit wrapped in a blanket. Ram removed the blanket and was horrified to see the body in a mutilated state.

The villagers informed the police about the incident. The search for the accused, Basudev Korwa alias Tangnu, led them to discover the shocking truth: his own cousin had kidnapped and killed the boy. Basudev's motive was to sell the boy's organs for profit, according to the police. The most astonishing detail was the source of Basudev's inspiration: an Artificial Intelligence (AI) app. Police have arrested Basudev, 27, and recovered the boy's kidneys, lungs, and eyes.

Basudev had been planning the murder for 45 days, according to the police. He had watched videos on social media and interacted with an AI app to find ways to execute his plan. The Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), Rakesh Kumar Patanwar, revealed that Basudev saw a video claiming that one could earn Rs 20 lakh by selling organs, which sparked his interest in the trade.

He interacted with the AI app through voice messages, believing that a real person was responding to him. Basudev had no prior criminal record and never discussed his plan with anyone, believing that the AI app would facilitate the sale of the organs.

On the night of the murder, Basudev lured the boy with chicken, a rare treat for a poor tribal family. He intoxicated the boy with liquor, took him to his hut, and waited for him to pass out. After the boy fell asleep, Basudev slit his throat and removed his kidneys, lungs, and eyes. He then buried the boy in a pit and partially buried the organs in a bucket filled with mud.

The police were alerted when a local resident spotted Basudev with the boy before he disappeared. The police caught Basudev and led them to the bucket containing the organs. The murder weapon has been recovered, and the boy's body and organs have been handed over for an autopsy. The remains have been returned to the family for last rites.