17-year-old killed over ‘laughter emoji’ on FB post

A 17-year-old boy was hacked to death allegedly by another teenager in Sherpur's Nalitabari upazila yesterday following a dispute over a reaction on a Facebook post.

The victim was identified as Abu Naim, son of Ismail Hossain from the Nayabil area, said Sohel Rana, officer-in-charge of Nalitabari Police Station. The incident occurred around 11:45am.

Naim was declared dead at Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, the OC said.

Locals caught the suspect, Sabuj Mia, 18, of Andharupara and handed him over to police, he added.

According to police and locals, Sabuj, who had been living in Gazipur, returned home for the Eid holiday. The altercation between the two teens began about a month ago when Naim reacted with a "laughter emoji" on one of Sabuj's posts on Facebook, leading to a heated argument over messenger.

When Sabuj saw Naim at Nayabil Bazar yesterday, he attacked him with a knife, stabbing him in the chest. Legal proceedings were underway, said the OC.