Rangpur family killing: New police account shifts killing scene to rooftop in broad daylight

Police have emerged with a new claim in the killing of retired teacher Ganapati Chakraborty and three members of his family in Rangpur, saying the teacher, his wife and daughter were allegedly killed on the rooftop in the morning after catching two youths using yaba there.

Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mohammad Abdul Mabud disclosed the details at a briefing on Thursday (August 27), citing statements the accused gave before a court.

According to police, Mugdha Das and Siddhartha Das were using yaba behind a water tank on the rooftop of Ganapati’s house early on the day of the killings. They allegedly did not realise it was already morning when Ganapati went upstairs for his routine walk and caught them.

Police said the two youths, fearing exposure, allegedly strangled Ganapati with a gamcha. His wife, Pritilata Chakraborty, and daughter, Parthi Chakraborty Agami, later came upstairs after hearing a noise while the accused were moving the body. They allegedly raised an alarm after seeing what had happened and were also strangled with a gamcha and rope, according to the statements.

The accused then allegedly entered Ganapati’s room, where his 12-year-old son, Priyam Chakraborty Ayush, woke up and recognised Siddhartha. Police said the boy asked him why he was there, raising fears that the accused would be identified. He was allegedly strangled with a piece of cloth.

Police said the statements have added new information to their earlier account of the killings, particularly regarding where and how the three victims were killed.

Investigators are also examining two other possible motives: resentment linked to the sale and purchase of ancestral property and possible social tensions between the Chakraborty family and local residents.

According to the police commissioner, the family had limited social interaction with residents of a nearby fishing community. Investigators are looking into whether that social divide may have contributed to any grievance against the family.

Police had earlier said Ganapati was killed after catching the youths using yaba on the rooftop and that his wife and daughter were killed near the staircase. The latest statements present a different sequence and indicate that all three were killed on the rooftop.

The bodies of Ganapati, 65, his wife Pritilata, 50, daughter Parthi, 25, and son Priyam, 12, were recovered late Saturday night.

Two suspects have reportedly made confessional statements before a court under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Following the filing of the case, the investigation was transferred from the police station to the Detective Branch of Rangpur Metropolitan Police.