Police initially believed that 13-year-old Ishayat Shahriar Apratim had been lured away and murdered simply to steal an iPhone. However, as the investigation progressed, disturbing details emerged: resentment over a Tk 5,000 debt, an "unequal friendship" with older youths, and a calculated trap involving TikTok videos.
According to officials involved in the investigation, local residents, and the First Information Report (FIR), there was a premeditated plan to take the iPhone 17 Pro Max that Apratim was carrying. Police noted that the individuals arrested may have harbored separate grievances and motives. At a district police press conference, authorities revealed that Apratim was taken to an isolated wooded area in the Sananda part of Lalmai Hill under the pretext of making TikTok videos. When he resisted attempts to snatch the phone, he was fatally struck on the head with bamboo sticks.
District police have arrested three people in connection with the murder case filed by Apratim’s father, KM Firoz Shahriar. The prime suspect has been identified as Saiful Islam alias Tuhin, alongside two other juveniles, while investigators are probing the involvement of another young man named Siam.
Investigators described the relationship between the victim and the suspects as an "unequal friendship," noting that Apratim's associates were older and not his classmates. Police recovered digital evidence, including photographs, videos, and chat logs showing Tuhin repeatedly messaging Apratim on Friday, urging him to bring the expensive phone out to shoot content. Apratim left home with the device at around 2:30 pm and met Tuhin shortly after, with their movements captured by multiple CCTV cameras walking toward the hills.
Between 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm, a struggle ensued when Apratim resisted the theft, leading to the fatal assault. Beyond the iPhone robbery, police have uncovered leads regarding a financial dispute involving Tk 5,000. Apratim's tragic death has sparked widespread grief and public outrage, culminating in his funeral at the Comilla University central field as family and community members demand justice.
— Daily Best News Desk • Fearless in the search for truth
Reported by Cumilla Correspondent • Edited by the Daily Best News desk. Send corrections to [email protected].
