Jamshedpur, Jan. 17: The body of a 22-year-old unemployed youth, with throat slit, was found on Marine Drive in the Sonari police station area this morning, fuelling speculations that a love triangle may have led to the murder.

The victim has been identified as Abinash Pramanik, a resident of Tillu Bhatta, a Sonari slum. The body was found on the premises of a leading construction company near the River’s Meet area.

Preliminary investigations revealed that Abinash’ throat had been slashed with a sharp-edged object either on the night of January 15 or in the small hours of January 16.

According to sources, a youth, Topno Samant, who resided in the same locality as Abinash and was his acquaintance, had come to the latter’s house on the night of January 15. The duo left the house together. That was the last time the victim was seen alive.

Sub-inspector Lalit Prasad of Sonari police station said that Topno was the prime murder suspect and he was absconding.

The officer also said that the murder might have been committed over a girl who was known to both Abinash and Topno, but did not give details either of the girl concerned or the clues that led to such a theory.

The youth’s mother and brother started searching for him at homes of friends and relatives in and around Sonari when he did not return on January 16.

They finally approached Sonari police station to lodge a missing person’s diary today morning at 10.

As they waited for the officer in charge to arrive, someone told them that the body of a youth had been discovered in the vicinity. Abinash’s mother and brother reached the spot and identified the body.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Prasad, also the officer in charge of Sonari police station, said Abinash had been murdered the same night he left with Topno.

Prasad also added that security guards of the construction company had seen two youths enter the factory premises, but had not intervened.

The police have registered a case of murder against Topno on the basis of the statement made by Abinash’s kin. The body has been sent for post-mortem.