Rangpur quadruple murder: DNA of accused Siddhartha, Mugdha identified in sample test

The DNA samples of two arrested accused, Siddhartha Das and Mugdha Das, have been identified in the murder of retired school teacher Ganapati Chakraborty and three members of his family in Rangpur.

Rangpur Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (DB) Sanaton Chakraborty confirmed the information to Dhaka Post around 9:15pm on Thursday, October 8.

The Detective Branch official said the two accused were taken from Rangpur Jail to the CID office in Dhaka on September 21 for DNA sample testing. After the test, their DNA matched with samples of various evidence sent.

Sanaton Chakraborty said the DNA test identified dates, cucumbers, cigarettes and other evidence as having been used by Siddhartha and Mugdha Das. "It can be said with certainty that they were involved in this murder," he said.

According to CID and investigation sources, the CID had collected 35 pieces of evidence from the scene during the recovery of the bodies of the teacher's family members who were victims of the murder. Twelve days after the incident, they were sent to the forensic lab in three phases. Among these are a fruit knife, foil used for consuming Yaba, cigarette butts, naan bread, cucumber and dates, stains on the basin, and a note found in the notebook of the slain child Priyam, among the 35 pieces of evidence collected.

Earlier, nine days after the incident, accused Siddhartha Das and Mugdha Das were given dope tests. No evidence of drug use was found in their bodies.

It may be mentioned that on the night of August 22, police recovered the bodies of retired Rangpur Zilla School teacher Ganapati Chakraborty, his wife, daughter and son from a locked house in the Machuapara (Daspara) area of Rangpur city. In the incident, neighbours Mugdha Das and Siddhartha Das were arrested from the same area.

Later, Ganapati Chakraborty's elder brother Gopinath Chakraborty filed a murder case with Kotwali Police Station as complainant. The accused gave confessional statements before a court under Section 164, admitting responsibility for the killings.

In this much-discussed murder, the accused's friend Simanta Das, Dokkhinpara crematorium guard Bidyut Mohanta and drug supplier Shanta Das, alias Puti Shanta, testified in court as witnesses. The case is currently being investigated by Rangpur Metropolitan Detective Police.