Jessore teenager Shadhin dies after a beating allegedly over an iPhone, family claims murder

Seventeen-year-old Shadhin had dreamed of going abroad to start his working life. Before that dream could come true, he lost his life. His family alleges that Shadhin died after being beaten over an iPhone. His body has been kept at Jessore General Hospital for an autopsy.

Shadhin, the son of Tipu Hossain of the Barandipara Mollapara area of Jessore town, died on Tuesday afternoon (20 October) while undergoing treatment in Dhaka. News of his death cast a shadow of grief over his family and neighbourhood.

Family sources say Shadhin's mother bought him an iPhone about a week earlier. The family claims the incident began over that phone.

Shadhin's mother alleges that an attempt was made to make her son disappear because of the iPhone. She says that when the matter became known, he was beaten after being falsely branded a thief in an attempt to hush it up.

According to relatives, Shadhin left home last Sunday afternoon. That night they learned he was lying seriously injured in a field in the town's Malopara area. Relatives rescued him and took him to Jessore General Hospital.

As his condition deteriorated, doctors referred him to Dhaka that same night for better treatment. He died there on Tuesday afternoon while under treatment.

Shadhin's grandmother Selina Begum alleges that a woman named Oli, from Malopara, struck Shadhin first. She says people were then gathered there and he was beaten collectively, leaving him seriously injured.

His father Tipu Hossain alleges that several people, including Chhoto Kasai, Shahidul and Ujjal, beat his son to death in a planned attack. He has demanded that those involved be identified, arrested quickly and given exemplary punishment.

Kabir Hossain, officer-in-charge of Jessore Kotwali police station, has confirmed the incident. He said police have begun operations to arrest those involved in the killing.

The case has revived memories of another recent death. The body of Ishayat Shahriar Apratim, the only son of Dr Nahida Begum, an associate professor in the Bangla department of Cumilla University, was recently recovered. On 19 September at noon his body was found at a secluded spot in the Lalmai hills in Bijoypur Sonanda village, in Cumilla Sadar Dakshin upazila.

At a press conference on 21 September about that case, Superintendent of Police Anisuzzaman said Apratim had been taken in a planned way to the secluded hill area and killed to snatch the iPhone he was carrying. He also announced the arrest of three people in the case.

Those arrested in the Apratim killing were Saiful Islam Tuhin, Mozammel Hossain Fahad and Md Kamrul Hasan. A teenager named Siam had been detained for questioning. With allegations in both cases of a life lost over a phone, the issue has come under fresh discussion.

In Shadhin's case, the family now awaits the autopsy report and the outcome of the police operation. Relatives hope the full picture will become clear once the accused are arrested.