At least three close relatives were among several people who allegedly carried out the killing of four members of a family in Niamatpur upazila of Naogaon over a land dispute, police said on Wednesday.

District’s Superintendent of Police Tariqul Islam said three suspects, including the victim’s brother-in-law and two nephews, have been arrested for their involvement in what he described as a premeditated “killing mission” aimed at eliminating the family over a property dispute.

The arrestees are Shahidul Islam, husband of victim Habibur Rahman’s sister Shirin Akhter, Shirin’s son Shahin Hossain and Sabuj Rana, son of Habibur’s another sister— all hailing from Bahadurpur village in the upazila.

SP suspects land dispute behind Naogaon murders

While speaking at a press briefing held at his in the afternoon, the SP said several other individuals were also involved in the killing mission.

Habibur, 32, his wife Popy Sultana, 25, their son Parvez, 9, and three-year-old daughter Sadia Akhter were found dead at their house at Bahadurpur village on Tuesday morning, with their throats slit. A case was filed at Niamatpur Police Station in this connection.

Tariqul Islam said victim Habibur has five sisters too.

Their father Namiuddin distributed his property among his children, transferring 13 bighas of land, including the homestead, out of a total 17 bighas, to his son Habibur, while the remaining land to his daughters.

The handover of the larger share of property to Habibur led to an enmity with his sisters, brothers-in-law and nephews.

Later, his sister Shirin Akhter, her son Shahin, and Sabuj Rana, son of Habibur’s another sister Halima Khatun, planned to kill the family.

On Monday afternoon, Habibur went to Chhatra Bazar in the upazila with Sabuj Rana to buy cattle, carrying Tk 1.4 lakh. However, he returned home without purchasing any cattle.

After returning from the market, Sabuj Rana, Shahidul, Shahin, and four others involved in the incident held a meeting in a village field and devised a plan to kill Habibur, the SP said.

As per the plan, Sabuj Rana went to the house of Habibur on Monday night and took dinner with them. At that time, Shahin also secretly entered the house unnoticed and hid in a room. Sabuj Rana left the house after having dinner.

As everyone fell asleep, Shahin opened the main gate of the house, allowing Sabuj Rana, Shahidul, and five others to enter it.

They first locked Habibur’s father Namiuddin inside his room from the outside and then killed Habibur and his family members after slitting their throats one by one.

On Tuesday morning, Sabuj Rana, along with others who took part in the killing mission, went to the house of Habibur after the news of the killing spread around.

Police detained four people, including Sabuj Rana, his father Namir Uddin, Habibur’s two sisters Dalima Begum and Halima, for interrogation. During interrogation, Sabuj Rana confessed to his part in the incident.

Following interrogation, police recovered a sharp weapon from the paddy husk of the house and a knife from a pond adjacent to the house.

The SP said efforts are underway to arrest others involved in the killing mission.