The dead was identified as Khairul Chowdhury, 12, son of Kamal Chowdhury of Nabinagar upazila in Brahmanbaria district.

Police arrested three people, who are workers of the hall, on suspicion of having connection with the killing. However, they could not identify any motive of the killing.

The body, whose ligaments of both legs were also cut off, was found at a corner of a playground inside the hall.

Khairul, who lived with his parents in city's Uttara, came to his grandfather's house at the hall along with his mother about four months ago, family sources said. His grandfather, Abdul Halim, is a sweeper of the hall.

The body was sent to Dhaka Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsy.