The body of Meraj was retrieved from a forest in Mohabbatpur village in Jagdishpur town on Monday night, they said. 

Meraj's father Riyaz told the police that his son had gone to a wedding in the village with his friends Ghulam and Parikal Ali on Sunday night but did not return home. 

When the family approached the duo to enquire about Meraj, they could not give a satisfactory answer, police said. 

Station house officer of Jagdishpur police station Rakesh Singh said Meraj's friends, who are also minors, have been detained and the police are questioning them. -- PTI