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A teenager was allegedly killed by a group that removed his testicles after being led to believe they could sell them for a six-figure sum.
The 17-year-old, identified only as Rehan, was a street vendor who sold pens and key chains in India.
According to PEOPLE, he was approached at his stall by four people who offered him 100 rupees, around $1.00, to help them with an arranged fight.
He was then allegedly taken to a secluded area in Bhopal before being fatally stabbed.
Investigators claim the group then removed his testicles and kept them packed in ice for two days while trying to find a buyer.
Police believe the alleged scheme was driven by a social media video containing a false claim that testicles from teenagers could fetch 12 million Indian rupees, around $125,300, on the black market in the Gulf.
Authorities have arrested 20-year-old business student Zoheb Khan and 18-year-old Aamir Qureshi in connection with the killing, while three minors have also been detained.
Ayush Gupta, the deputy commissioner of police in Bhopal, said four of the accused were present for the murder while Khan provided instructions remotely.
Rehan's body was eventually recovered from Lower Lake near Dhobi Ghat on August 10.
His worried mother had reported him missing five days earlier, and police were able to identify him from a tattoo.
A post-mortem examination subsequently found fatal injuries and confirmed that his testicles had been removed.
Khan, who is reportedly a business student, allegedly told the others that he was a doctor and knew how to remove the organs.
Police claim he went as far as purchasing a white apron, stethoscope, and thermometer online, which he allegedly used while training the group.
Authorities have said they have so far found no connection between the suspects and any organized trafficking ring.
In addition to this, police are still investigating whether "any reel claiming to fetch a price for testicles really existed," the Deccan Chronicle reported.
After the group's attempts to sell Rehan's testicle reportedly failed, Khan is alleged to have instructed the others to dispose of the organs in separate lakes.
Police have since recovered the blade they believe was used in the killing and deployed divers to search the water for the missing organs.
Santosh Patel, Bhopal's assistant commissioner of police, said the search would be challenging, with officials relying on the suspects to identify where the organs were allegedly discarded.
Investigators have also identified people whom the group allegedly approached as potential buyers and are questioning them to determine whether any sale had actually been planned.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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