Police have filed a charge sheet in court against four individuals, including two juveniles, in connection with the murder of Ishayat Shahriar alias Opratim (13), son of Nahida Begum, an associate professor at the Bengali Department of Comilla University.
The charge sheet was submitted on October 20, exactly 31 days after the recovery of the body. Opratim’s family is now awaiting the start of the trial, hoping for a swift judicial process that will ensure the maximum punishment for the perpetrators.
District Police Media Officer and Additional Superintendent of Police, Lutfur Rahman, confirmed the submission of the charge sheet on Thursday (October 22) late at night, around 12:30 AM.
He stated, “A charge sheet was filed in court against four accused, including two juveniles, on October 20. The primary truth of the crime committed by the four individuals was found during the investigation of the case.”
When asked about the matter, Opratim’s father and the complainant of the case, K. M. Firoz Shahriar, said, “Three days ago, I called the investigating officer of the case to ask, ‘When will you submit the charge sheet to the court?’ He then informed me that the charge sheet would be submitted immediately after the Durga Puja holidays.”
“Last night (yesterday), around 12:30 AM, he called me and informed me that the charge sheet had been submitted to the court. They have conveyed this information. Beyond that, I do not know anything else.”
Firoz Shahriar further added, “Opratim was the dream of our lives. But they snatched that dream away from us. We want to see a speedy trial for the killers. We hope that the murderers receive the maximum punishment in court within the shortest possible time. Our only demand now is the maximum punishment for the killers.”
**Names of Four Accused in the Charge Sheet**
Rajib Ahmed, Inspector (Investigation) of Comilla Sadar South Model Police Station, investigated the case and was its second investigating officer. The charge sheet names Saifur Islam alias Tuhin (19), Md. Siam (19), and two juveniles aged 15 and 16 as accused. They have been charged under sections 302, 201, and 34 of the Penal Code. According to the Children Act, the two individuals have been referred to as juveniles in the charge sheet.
According to police, Tuhin is the main planner and prime accused in the murder. Siam was also involved with him in planning Opratim’s murder. Three individuals are accused of direct involvement in the murder. Police stated that Siam provided assistance.
Police reported that Tuhin and the two juveniles aged 15 and 16 have given confessional statements in court. The other accused, Siam, is also charged with aiding the murder and being involved in its planning.
The details of the charge sheet are not yet clear to Opratim’s family. In particular, they have had questions about the age of the two juveniles from the very beginning. The family had demanded that their actual age be determined, if necessary, through DNA testing. Teachers and students of Comilla University had also raised questions about this. The family is considering discussing the matter with their lawyer and taking further legal action after receiving a copy of the charge sheet.
Additional Superintendent of Police, Md. Lutfur Rahman, said, “The charge sheet was submitted to the court within the timeframe given by the Superintendent of Police. The accused were arrested within 24 hours of the body’s recovery, and the investigation was concluded diligently, with the charge sheet filed within 31 days.”
However, due to the public holidays for Sharadiya Durga Puja, subsequent court proceedings did not commence immediately after the charge sheet was filed.
Police sources stated that although the charge sheet was filed on October 20, court proceedings are expected to resume from Sunday after the holidays.
**How Opratim was Murdered**
Opratim went missing on September 18 after leaving his home in the Gandhamati area of Kotbari, Comilla city. He was a seventh-grade student at Border Guard Public School in Kotbari. On September 19, his body was recovered by police from a secluded jungle on Lalmai Hill in Sananda village, Bijoypur Union, Sadar South Upazila.
According to police, Opratim was intentionally lured to a secluded jungle with the aim of snatching his iPhone. When he resisted during the attempted phone snatching, he was struck on the head with a bamboo stick. This incident led to his death.
In the initial investigation, police arrested the prime accused, Tuhin, along with two others. Later, after finding evidence of Siam’s involvement during the investigation, he was also arrested. Police stated that Opratim’s iPhone was recovered from under the mattress of Tuhin’s bed, based on information provided by Tuhin.
Police reportedly identified Tuhin by reviewing CCTV camera footage from various locations after Opratim went missing. According to police, questioning Tuhin led to information about the involvement of others in the murder.
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