April 8, 1998: Paramvir succumbs to his injuries in hospital. He has not spoken for two days. His mortal remains carry his chilling tale to the grave.

Wagle Estate police are still reconstructing the events that took place on the terrace on the night of April 6, at Balaji Apartments, Kisan Nagar,Wagle Estate in Thane.

Paramvir's father Vikram Singh Negi says his son simply vanished with three schoolmates without a word when he answered the door that fateful night.

Several trips to the police station and extensive inquiries have pointed the finger of suspicion at the 15-year-old's schoolmates. But what transpired at the Mulund school he attended is difficult to say.

``The killers were obviously known to my son as he immediately joined them when the doorbell rang,'' Negi remembers, his face convulsing in pain. He says the memory of his neighbour shouting to the Negi family returns to haunt him, time and again. ``My son on the terrace was clearly visible to the lady as the buildings (located at the Mulund check naka end of Wagle Estate) in our colony are choc-a-bloc. The killers must have jumped over the adjoining terraces and escaped as no one saw them leave the building,'' he adds.

Negi told Express Newsline that his son, who was in Std IX, was refused admission to the nearby DhanvantiHospital when doctors suspected a case of homicide. Paramvir was therefore rushed to Sunildevi Sanginia Hospital at Thane, where he dies two days later.

A post-mortem examination on April 10 revealed two ligature marks encircling the boy's neck and abrasions on the cheek and lower lips, hinting that the boy was thrashed. The probable cause of death is stated as: shock and asphyxia as a result of strangulation to death.

As the initial shock subsided, the mystery began to clear up a little. Negi remembered that Paramvir had told his uncle Ranvir Singh that he had been beaten up by some boys in school on April 4. That evening, the lad had also asked his uncle for Rs 250, to ``pay somebody''.

He says his son was admitted to the Mulund English-medium school near Mulund railway station in August 1997. He was earlier studying in St Stephen's High School, Doon Valley in Uttar Pradesh. But, he adds, he had no inkling his son was in trouble.

But what happened on the terrace on April 6 is still a mystery today.Shopkeepers in the adjoining building say they saw three grown-up schoolboys climb the stairs of Paramvir's building with extreme stealth on the night of April 6. None of them saw the trio return.

Police suspect the teenager was the victim of a racket involving a handful of boys who sold leaked examination papers to their schoolmates. They have also found there were more than three schoolboys involved. After questioning the school authorities, classmates and staff, they discovered that the boys were abetted by a certain peon, who sneaked out the question papers.

Investigating officer, Inspector N M Athawale told Express Newsline: ``It appears the boy was killed in a violent scuffle when he refused to pay the money.''

Blood samples of six students have been sent for histopathological examination to match the blood on the terrace. Police have narrowed the investigations to two key suspects, Athawale adds.

He says Paramvir's murder was probably the result of a deal turned sour.