Comilla University students disagree with police claim that Oprotim was killed for iPhone

Students of Comilla University (CoU) have expressed disagreement with the police claim that Ishayat Shahriar, alias Oprotim, the only child of Associate Professor Nahida Begum of the university's Bengali Department, was killed to snatch the iPhone he had. They said it is necessary to look into whether there was any other reason or involvement behind Oprotim's murder. At the same time, they demanded that whether there was any negligence by police in the investigation of the murder should also be brought under investigation.

The students held a protest procession and human chain at the university's Gol Chattar around noon on Monday, September 21, demanding protest against Oprotim's murder and a fair trial. Later, they made these demands at a press conference. Students from various departments of the university participated in the programme.

Earlier, at a press conference at the Cumilla District Superintendent of Police office on Sunday, Superintendent of Police Md Anisuzzaman claimed that Oprotim was taken in a premeditated manner to a secluded forest in the Sananda area of Lalmai Hills with the aim of snatching his mother's iPhone. When he resisted while the phone was being snatched, he was hit on the head with a bamboo stick. Later, after confirming his death, three people left the scene with the phone.

CoU students have raised questions about this police account. At the press conference, university student and National Chhatra Shakti Cumilla South district convener Naeem Bhuiyan said there have been questions about the role of the police administration since Oprotim went missing. Oprotim's father filed a general diary (GD) at Sadar Dakshin Police Station around 11pm on September 19 about his son going missing. He remarked that it needs to be examined whether police showed proper promptness after that.

Student Kazi Miraj also raised questions about the police's statement that the iPhone Oprotim had was the sole reason for the murder. He said the lifestyle of the arrested individuals, the expensive mobile phones and motorcycles they had, should also be taken into consideration in the investigation. He also mentioned that arrested Tuhin had prior allegations of motorcycle theft. He demanded that it be investigated whether these matters have any link to Oprotim's murder.

University Chhatra Dal member secretary Mohammad Abul Bashar said at the press conference that they have been told the administration is not disclosing some information now in the interest of the investigation. He demanded that the real reason behind the murder be brought forward based on information and evidence found in the investigation.

Abul Bashar said, "We want to unravel the main mystery of the murder. The reason for Oprotim's murder needs to be communicated to his mother, Nahida Begum."

Student and Chhatra Adhikar Parishad city president Saif Hossain said although the young man was 19 years old, he was shown as 15 and sent to a Child Development Centre. He demanded that the matter be verified and action taken.

Oprotim went missing from the area adjacent to Comilla University last Friday. The next day, police recovered his body from a jungle not far from CoU. Later, based on text messages on the iPhone Oprotim had and CCTV footage, Tuhin (19), two teenagers aged 15 and 16, and Md Siam (19) were arrested. Among them, three except Siam gave confessional statements before a Cumilla court on Sunday night.