United News of Bangladesh

Shimanto Chandra Das, a friend of two accused in Rangpur quadruple murder, has given statement under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure before a court. DB inspector Jinnat Ali, investigating officer of the case, said, “Shimato appeared before the court with his father and gave his statement as a witness. The judge recorded it under Section 164.” Jinnat said the account provided by Shimanto was consistent with statements given by the accused particularly regarding their visit to his home to consume Yaba on the night of the incident. According to his statement, the accused had gone to Shimanto's house after the murders and consumed Yaba on the night of the killings. Rangpur Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Mohammad Rafiqul Islam recorded Shimanto's statement on Tuesday night. The two accused-Mugdha Das, 23, son of Kanu Das, and Siddhartha Das, 19, son of Binoy Chandra Das- were arrested from the same area early Sunday. Shimanto, son of Subhas Chandra Das of Machuapara (Daspara) area in the city, works as a sales representative at a clothing shop in a local market. Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Abdul Mabud had earlier at a press briefing on Sunday said that the two accused went to Shimanto's house and consumed Yaba on the night of the killings. Asked whether the accused would undergo dope tests, Jinnat said police has already applied for the tests. The process would begin on Wednesday. Regarding questions surrounding inconsistencies in police statements and information about the killings, the investigating officer said the investigation would seek answers to all outstanding questions. “All the questions surrounding the killings will be addressed through a fair investigation. We will work to ensure justice in the case,” he said. A murder case was filed with Kotwali Police Station on Sunday by Gopinath Chakraborty, elder brother of deceased teacher Ganapati Chakraborty, against unidentified people. The two arrested accused appeared before a court the same day and confessed to the killings in statements recorded under section 164. Later, they were sent to jail. Inspector (Investigation) Milon Chatterjee of Kotwali Police Station was initially assigned to investigate the case. On Monday, the investigation was transferred from Kotwali police to the Detective Branch of Rangpur Metropolitan Police, and Inspector Jinnat Ali was appointed as the new investigating officer. Ganapati Chakraborty, 65, a former accounting teacher at Rangpur Zilla School and three of his family members were found dead at their house on Saturday night. Ganapati used to used to live at his his own two-storey house at Machuapara. The other victims were Ganapati’s wife Pritilata Chakraborty Bala, 50, their daughter Agami Chakraborty Prarthi, 25, a postgraduate student, and their 12-year-old son Ayush Chakraborty Priyam, a fifth-grade student. The ground floor of the house is still incomplete while Ganapati and his family had been living on the upper floor for around two to three years. After his retirement, he also practised as a homeopathic physician. Police said all four were strangled to death. After conducting autopsies, the bodies were handed over to the family on Sunday afternoon. Their last rites were later performed at the Dakkhigunj cremation ground in the city around 10:30pm. Deputy Commissioner of Rangpur Metropolitan Police, Sanatan Chakraborty said Shimanto's statement provided additional information relevant to the case and that the investigation is continuing to establish the facts surrounding the killings.

Two people arrested in connection with the killing of four family members, including a former schoolteacher, at their home in Rangpur city confessed to the murders before a court. The accused, Mugdha Das, 23, and Siddhartha Das, 19, made their confessional statements before Rangpur Metropolitan Magistrate Rafiq-ul Islam at around 11:30pm on Sunday, said Milon Chakraborty, Inspector (Investigation) of Kotwali Police Station and the investigating officer in the case. He said the two accused gave their statements before the court, but the details were not disclosed in the interest of the investigation. When asked whether anyone else was involved in the murders or if police sought their remand, the investigating officer said, “It can be said after the investigation. As they have confessed, there was no need to seek remand.” The victims were identified as Ganapati Chakraborty alias Jewel, 65, a former teacher of Rangpur Zilla School; his wife Pritilata Chakraborty, 50; their daughter Parthi Chakraborty Agami, 25; and their son Priyam Chakraborty Ayush, 12, a Class V student at Rangpur Zilla School. Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mohammad Abdul Mabud disclosed details of the gruesome killings at a press conference at his office on Sunday morning. According to police, the bodies were recovered from different parts of the house in the Machuapara Mandir area of the city at around 11:30pm on Saturday. One body was found on the rooftop, two on the terrace and another inside a room, police said.