Gurun:An allegation that an 18-year-old stole a motorcycle reportedly led to his torture and death, with his body later discovered by the roadside in Jalan Harvard, Gurun, last Thursday.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Kedah police chief Datuk Adzli Abu Shah stated that police received information about the body on the morning of October 8. A post-mortem revealed the cause of death as blunt force trauma to the head. The suspects allegedly acted in anger following complaints from residents about the victim's supposed theft.

The victim, identified as Muhammad Haikal Mohd Shahrilnizam, was caught in Pendang on October 5. He was then taken to a suspect's house, detained for two days, tortured, beaten, and had his hair cut. His body was found inside the house on the night of October 7 and later dumped by the roadside.

Police arrested 14 men, aged between 16 and 24, in operations around Gurun and Guar Chempedak shortly after the body was discovered. They seized 14 mobile phones, a Honda City, scissors, and the victim's identity card. Twelve suspects are remanded for six days until Wednesday, while two underage suspects are remanded until tomorrow. The case is being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code. The victim was found in yellow and black sportswear with head and face injuries and initially lacked identification documents.

In an unrelated case, police are searching for two men to assist in a probe into attempted murder and obstructing police during Ops Pintas, an operation against migrant smuggling at the Hutan Kampung Toll Plaza on October 7. Police intercepted a Proton X70 SUV suspected of carrying five migrants, but the driver tried to run over a police officer and crashed into the toll barrier. After police shot at a tyre, the suspect fled, abandoning the vehicle in Pendang. Authorities are seeking Muhammad Raffi Yusrino, 28, and Zulfikrie Naaim Morhinino, 36, for further investigation.