Three confess in court to killing 13-year-old Oprotim over iPhone

Three people arrested over the killing of 13-year-old Ishayat Shahriar Oprotim in Cumilla have confessed before a court, police said on Sunday night.

Prime accused Saiful Islam Tuhin, 19, and two boys aged 15 and 16 gave confessional statements under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure before Senior Judicial Magistrate Abida Sultana Molly.

Cumilla Superintendent of Police Md Anisuzzaman confirmed the development at around 8:30 pm.

Police say Oprotim was lured to a wooded area near Cumilla University in a plan to take the iPhone he was carrying and was beaten to death when he resisted.

Oprotim, the only child of Nahida Begum, an associate professor in Cumilla University’s Bangla department, left his home in Dakshin Bagmara at around 3:30 pm on Friday with his mother’s iPhone. He told his family he was going to take photographs with friends.

When he failed to return, his father, KM Firoz Shahriar, called the phone at around 7 pm and found it switched off. The family searched for him before filing a general diary with Sadar Dakshin Model Police Station at around 10:30 pm.

Oprotim’s body was found around noon on Saturday on a wooded slope in Sananda, near the university’s south gate and about three kilometres from his home. His forehead and face bore severe injuries, while the iPhone was missing.

His father filed a murder case against unidentified suspects early Sunday.

Police said CCTV footage and subsequent questioning led investigators to Tuhin and the two boys.

At a press conference on Sunday, Anisuzzaman said the three had planned to take Oprotim to the secluded area and steal the phone.

When Oprotim resisted, a struggle broke out and the three allegedly struck him on the head with bamboo sticks, according to police.

Police allege Tuhin took the iPhone after Oprotim died, brought it home and hid it beneath his bed. Investigators recovered the device at around 8 pm on Saturday with Tuhin present.

Another 19-year-old, identified as Siam, has been detained while police investigate whether he had any role in the killing.

The discovery of Oprotim’s body prompted widespread anger on social media over the killing.

He was buried at Gandhamoti graveyard near his home on Sunday after two funeral prayers.

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