Different statements by dom, doctor on rape signs on bodies of Ganapati Chakravarty’s wife, daughter

Bablu Kumar Biswas, assistant professor of the Forensic Medicine Department of Rangpur Medical College Hospital, has said that there are no signs of rape on the bodies of the deceased mother and daughter of retired teacher Ganapati Chakravarty of Machuapara in Rangpur city. On the other hand, a mortuary worker (dom) has told Views Bangladesh that the mother and daughter may have been raped before the murder.

The doctor informed this on Tuesday (August 25). The mortuary worker said, ‘During the post-mortem he saw semen-like fluid on the bodies of the mother and daughter and also showed it to the doctor present. Later on the doctor’s advice the mortuary worker set those fluids aside.’

On the other hand, the doctor said, ‘Samples were collected from the bodies of the deceased Preetilata Chakravarty Bala, 50, and daughter Agomoni Chakravarty, 25, for examination of signs of rape. Later the collected swab samples were sent to the microbiology lab. It has not been said from there that any signs of rape have been found.’ He also informed that no signs of attempted rape or anything of that nature were found either.

Bablu Kumar Biswas said, ‘So far in our examinations no signs of rape have been found on the deceased Preetilata Chakravarty Bala and Agomoni Chakravarty. Therefore we can say they were not victims of rape. We can rule out this matter.’

Regarding how the murders took place, the doctor said, ‘They were not killed with the impact of any heavy weapon. From the collection of signs and examinations what we have seen is that they were killed by strangulation. Some swelling marks from impacts of pushing and shoving just before the murder have been found. However, no cut or tear marks have been found on the body.’

Regarding the rumours spreading about the liquid substance on the faces of the bodies and the changes in the facial features, he said, ‘The liquid substance found near the faces of the deceased is not due to any chemical or chemical burn. Such changes in the colour and appearance of the face have occurred in the natural process of decomposition of the body. No evidence of their jaws being broken has also been found in the post-mortem.’

He informed that no truth has been found in the post-mortem either regarding the rumour that the faces of the bodies were scorched with liquid substance or acid. In his words, ‘Due to the bodies lying for a few days the facial features appeared scorched.’ He also informed that these results of the examinations have been sent in the form of a report to the appropriate authorities.

In-charge of the morgue of Rangpur Medical College and Hospital Saheb Ali told Views Bangladesh that the bodies of the mother and daughter were received at the morgue after nearly 84 hours and samples were collected after that. He said, ‘In this condition it is not possible to say for sure right now whether rape took place or not. Detailed information will be known after examining the samples. A fat-like liquid substance was seen coming out from the body of the girl. Our primary assumption is that it may be the girl’s bodily fluid. However, it is not possible to be sure just by looking. The matter has been sent for examination. In the examination we have done, primarily no signs of rape have been found. However, what the liquid substance is and whether it is mixed with anything will be confirmed only after receiving the examination report. At present it is being assumed to be a fat-like substance. The actual matter will be known after the examination. However, samples have also been collected from the mother out of the apprehension that she too may have been raped.’

He informed that four ‘swabs’ have been preserved, of which two have been sent to CID and two to the pathology department for examination and the full matter will be known for certain only after receiving the report. He further informed that proof of rape is found within 72 hours while alive, and if the body arrives at the morgue within 10-12 hours it is possible to find proof of rape.

It may be mentioned that around 11pm on Saturday night (August 22) police recovered the bodies of Ganapati Chakravarty, 65, his wife Preetilata Chakravarty, 50, daughter Agomoni Chakravarty, 25, and son Priyam Chakravarty, 12, from their house in Machuapara. Later thana police, CID and PBI collected signs for investigation of the incident and sent the bodies to the morgue for post-mortem. Elder brother of the deceased Ganapati, Gopinath Chakravarty, became the plaintiff and filed a murder case, in which police arrested two youths named Siddhartha Das and Mugdha Das. At a press conference on Sunday (August 23) the then Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mohammad Abdul Mabud informed that late at night Siddhartha and Mugdha were consuming yaba on the rooftop of Ganapati’s house and when obstructed they killed Ganapati along with his wife and son-daughter one by one by strangulation.