Police have unraveled the mystery behind the murder of 13-year-old teenager Shakibul Islam alias Shakib, whose body was recovered from the banks of the Baral River in Faridpur, Pabna, and arrested prime accused Imon Hossain (25). Following his confession and information provided, the snatched battery-operated auto-van has also been recovered.

The accused youth was arrested on Monday (September 14) afternoon. Imon is the son of Shah Alam from Kaliakoir village in Ullapara upazila of Sirajganj, though he currently resides in Dighulia village of Faridpur upazila. Earlier, on Sunday (September 13) afternoon, police recovered Shakib's body from the Baral River in Majat village under Demra union of Faridpur upazila. Shakib was the son of Haris Pramanik from Ratanpur village. Initial police inquest reports noted severe head trauma, a fractured skull, and bloodstains around the nose and mouth.

According to police and local sources, Shakibul left home on Sunday morning with his auto-van for daily passenger transport along the Demra-Faridpur route. However, he lost contact with his family by Sunday afternoon. Later, locals spotted a floating body in the Baral River north of Majat village and alerted police, who confirmed the identity of the deceased, while the auto-van remained missing.

The victim's father, Harij Uddin, filed a murder case at Faridpur Police Station (Case No. 08) on Sunday, alleging that unidentified criminals killed his son and fled with the vehicle. Acting on the complaint, police launched an investigation and successfully apprehended Imon, subsequently recovering the stolen auto-van from Dhanuaghata village based on his confession.

Faridpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Monzurul Alam Masud stated that during interrogation, arrested accused Imon confessed to his direct involvement in the murder, and legal procedures are underway to send him to court. The OC added that investigations are ongoing to determine if others were involved in the crime.