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who is now posted in Sylhet Range Police, said the SIM card was activated just two days before the murder. It was switched off after the incident, he added.

“Analysing the call list, police spotted one of them [the arrestees], who is a worker of GPH Ispat. In the meantime, police also learned that another worker of GPH Ispat named Dilip was missing for a few days from the workplace.”

Later on April 25, officials arrested Jibon and Durjoy in the murder case while Kanchan was released after interrogation.

According to police sources, Jibon gave his confessional statement before the court of Metropolitan Magistrate Safi Uddin on April 26, describing how he and Durjoy murdered Dilip and burnt the body to destroy evidence.

In the statements, he mentioned that they murdered the man over a brawl for Tk 50 and consuming marijuana, the sources said.

But on May 2 that year, police found Dilip in a remote area of Manikchhari upazila of Khagrachhari and produced him before the court with a report in this regard.

Jibon’s father Suman Chakrabarty, who is also a day labourer, told The Daily Star, “My son is a worker of GPH Ispat factory and he went to the spot with his friends to see the dead body.

“They [police] tortured my son in custody and forced him to make a confessional statement. A police informant Palash Shil framed my son because of his rivalry with my family.”

“I am a poor man living hand to mouth. I placed bail prayers two times through a lawyer but failed to have my son released due to the lawyer’s noncooperation,” he added.

Palash Shil could not be reached for comment as his mobile phone was found switched off.

Durjoy’s mother Shandya Acharjee said her son was innocent but police arrested him near their house when he went outside to have tea.

However, SI Saifullah refuted the allegations and asked, “If we had tortured the accused, why would we rescue Dilip alive through hectic efforts and place him before the court with documents?”

He added that the accused made the confessional statement before remand. “But when we found Dilip alive, we placed remand prayers to know the truth.”

Inspector (Investigation) Sanjoy Sinha of Halishahar Police Station, also the current IO of the case, told the Daily Star, “We are trying to confirm the identity of the victim. The DNA samples have been preserved.

“Once the identity is confirmed, the reason behind the grisly murder will be known.”