Naogaon 4 murder: Investigation indicates planned killings over land dispute

Police have claimed that four members of the same family were killed by throat-slit in Naogaon's Niamatpur upazila following a land dispute 'masterminded by relatives'. District Superintendent of Police Mohammad Tariqul made the claim at a press briefing on Wednesday based on preliminary interrogation of three arrestees.

Police said the murders were committed by maternal uncles and cousins out of greed for grandfather's property.

The bodies of a couple and their two children were found with their throats slit at midnight on Monday in Bahadurpur village under Niamatpur upazila. The deceased are Habibur Rahman, 35, his wife Popi Sultana, and their children Parvez Rahman, 9, and Sadiya Akter, 3.

The arrestees are Shahidul Islam, 30, husband of Habibur's sister Shirin Akter; his son Shahin Hossain; and Sabuj Rana, 20, son of Habibur's another sister. All three reside in Bahadurpur village.

At a press conference held at the Naogaon Police Superintendent's office around 2:00 pm on Wednesday, SP Mohammad Tariqul Islam said Habibur was one of six siblings—one brother and five sisters. Habibur's father recently registered his property distribution among his children, giving 13 decimals including the homestead to his son Habibur and the rest to his daughters. This led to disputes between Habibur and his sisters, brothers-in-law, and nephews. Gram panchayat meetings were also held over the matter.

According to the SP, Shahidul and Sabuj have given confessional statements to police. The three—Shahidul, his son Shahin, and Sabuj—planned the murder over the land dispute.

When the news broke on Tuesday morning, Sabuj, Shahidul and Shahin came to Habibur's house. Police immediately took six to seven people, including Sabuj, his father Nomir Uddin, and two sisters Dalima Begum and Halima, into custody for questioning. During interrogation, Sabuj confessed to the murders.

Based on his statement, police recovered the weapon used in the killings from a haystack in the village on Tuesday night. The knife used in the murders was also recovered from a pond on Wednesday.

The SP detailed that on Monday afternoon, Habibur had gone with Sabuj to buy a cow at Chhatra Bazar but returned without purchasing one. After returning, Sabuj, Shahidul, Shahin and three others finalised the plan in a field. Around 8:00 pm, they went to Habibur's house and ate together with the family. Meanwhile, another nephew hid in a room. After everyone fell asleep, Shahin opened the main door, allowing Sabuj, Shahidul and five others to enter. They first locked Habibur's father Nomir Uddin in his room from outside, then entered Habibur's room and killed him by slitting his throat while he slept.

Popi Sultana was in the adjacent room with her two children. When she came out to go to the bathroom, she was struck on the head with a weapon and later had her throat slit. The two children were also killed to eliminate the entire family.

Shahidul and Sabuj confessed to police that they committed the murders believing they would inherit Habibur's property after eliminating his entire family.

Niamatpur Police Station OC Mahbubur Rahman said Popi Sultana's father filed a murder case at the station on Tuesday night, naming unidentified individuals as accused. Shahidul, Sabuj and Shahin have been shown as arrested in that case. The arrestees are being produced in court, and efforts are on to arrest other suspects involved.