'Young TikTokers killed photographer Nurul to rob him of cameras': DMP

A photographer named Nurul Islam was killed by 10-12 TikTok users who were planning to rob the victim's DSLR cameras from him, Dhaka Metropolitan Police said today (21 May).

"A total of 10 youths involved in the killing have been arrested from Dhaka and Mymensingh by the law enforcers," Deputy Commissioner of DMP (Ramna Division) Masud Alam said during a press briefing this noon.

"The arrested youths are aged between 18 to 22 years. All of them make TikTok videos regularly. They decided to kill a photographer and snatch his cameras, as these youths did not have the means to buy the cameras themselves," Commissioner Masud said.

According to DMP, the youths found out Nurul from the latter's Facebook page 'Nurislam Photographer'.

They trapped Nurul by inviting him to shoot at a fake wedding. They even sent the victim Tk500 in advance and called him to Shankar intersection in Dhanmondi on the evening of 16 May, DMP said.

When Nurul reached Shankar with his assistant Emon, the main accused, Naim Ahammed, asked him to go towards the Jafrabad area. Upon reaching the area, the accused individuals blocked the path of the rickshaw he was on and attacked the victim with sharp weapons, DMP added.

DC Masud said, "When the victim refused to give his cameras, the attackers hacked him indiscriminately on his head, neck, arms and fingers of his hands. The victim's assistant, Emon, saved his life by jumping off the rickshaw and fleeing."

Osman Gani, the brother of the victim, has filed a murder case with Hazaribagh Police Station in this regard.

After the incident, police analysed the CCTV camera footage of the area and identified the perpetrators through the use of advanced technology, DMP said.

Later, the attackers were arrested during drives in the capital and Mymensingh, according to the DMP.

DMP has identified Naim Ahmmed as the main accused, while the other accused are Shahin Akanda, Shahin Chowkidar, Rahim Sarkar, Noyon Ahmmed, Hridoy Matbar, Abdur Razzaque, Anwar Hossain, Shahidul Islam and Md Arman.

During the drives, police recovered two DSLR cameras, a machete and a big knife from the attackers.