‘He went out to take photos’: Police say 13-year-old Opratim was killed over his iPhone

None of the accused was Opratim’s classmate, Cumilla SP says

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Our Correspondent, Cumilla

Cumilla Superintendent of Police Md Anisuzzaman held a press briefing this afternoon. Photo: Star

Ishiat Shahriar Opratim, 13, was allegedly killed in Cumilla over his iPhone, police said today after arresting three people in connection with the murder.

Cumilla Superintendent of Police Md Anisuzzaman said at a press briefing that the arrestees are Saiful Islam Tuhin, 19, and two 15-year-olds.

Another youth, Md Siam, 19, has been detained and his involvement is being verified, he added.

According to the SP, the incident took place between 5:00pm and 6:00pm on Friday in the Sananda area when the suspects allegedly attempted to snatch an iPhone Opratim had with him.

A scuffle broke out, during which Tuhin allegedly struck Opratim on the head with a stick. The two other teenage boys then allegedly hit him with sticks.

After confirming Opratim’s death, Tuhin allegedly took the phone and left with the two others, police said.

Police identified Tuhin from CCTV footage and detained him. During questioning, he allegedly confessed to the killing and implicated the other two arrested.

Asked about possible links to a teenage gang, the SP said investigators had found what he described as an “age-disparate friendship” between Opratim and the accused.

“None of the accused was Opratim’s classmate,” Anisuzzaman said, adding that they were either dropouts or irregular students at different educational institutions.

Opratim was the only son of Nahida Begum, an associate professor of Bangla at Comilla University, and KM Firoz Shahriar. The family lives in the Kotbari-Gandhamati area. He was a Class 7 student at Comilla Border Guard Public School.

The family said Opratim left home around 3:00pm on Friday, saying he was going to take photos with friends using his iPhone. When he did not return, family members searched for him in several places. After failing to find him, his father filed a general diary (GD) with Sadar Dakhhin Police Station later that day.

Around 1:00pm yesterday, locals found Opratim’s body in the Sananda area of Lalmai Hill, about 2.5 kms from Comilla University.

After the body was found, KM Firoz Shahriar, told The Daily Star, “Perhaps the iPhone was the reason for his [Opratim] death.”

After reviewing CCTV footage throughout Friday night, police saw Opratim heading towards Sananda area with a young man. With the help of locals, the youth was later identified as Tuhin.

Last night, district police raided Tuhin’s house in the Sananda area and recovered the iPhone.