Police recovered the body of a 19-year-old male on Friday afternoon after his father allegedly strangled him to death following a dispute over a smartphone instalment payment and an ongoing family conflict in Joypurhat town. Police also detained the victim's stepmother for questioning.

The incident occurred in the Sagarpara area of the municipal town. The accused, identified as Lutfor Rahman, allegedly fled after locking the rented house from outside following the killing.

Police recovered the body of the victim, Naim Islam Yamin, 19,  on Friday afternoon after being alerted by local residents. The body was sent to the Joypurhat 400-bed General Hospital morgue for an autopsy.

According to police and locals, Naim's family is originally from Nilphamari but had been living in a rented house in Sagarpara with his father and stepmother.

Naim had recently purchased a smartphone to be paid for in instalments. On July 29, an argument reportedly broke out between him and his father over payment of an upcoming instalment, during which Lutfor allegedly assaulted his son.

Police suspect that Lutfor strangled Naim sometime on Thursday night. After the alleged murder, he reportedly wrapped the body in a mattress, locked the room from outside and fled.

Md Nur-e-Alam Siddiqui,  Joypurhat Sadar Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC), said preliminary investigation suggests the victim was killed by his father following a family dispute linked to the smartphone instalment payment.

The accused remains absconding and a drive is underway to arrest him. The victim's stepmother, Banu Khatun, has been taken into police custody for questioning, while preparations are underway to file a murder case.