Police detain 2 over murder of 4 in Rangpur

Law enforcement agencies detained two youths on Sunday (August 23) morning in connection with the murder of retired schoolteacher Ganapati Chakraborty Jewel and three family members in Rangpur.

The detainees are Siddhartha, 20, and Mugdha, 23, both residents of the Machhuapara area in the city.

Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Abdul Mabud stated at a press briefing on Sunday afternoon that the suspects killed the four family members one after another after the victims objected to their drug consumption.

Law enforcement agencies initiated drives in the area immediately after receiving news of the quadruple murder, leading to the detention of Siddhartha and Mugdha.

Police Commissioner Mabud said the detainees admitted during primary interrogation that they were consuming drugs on the rooftop of Ganapati Chakraborty's under-construction building late Thursday (August 20) night. When Ganapati discovered them, the duo strangled him to death.

His wife, Pritilata Chakraborty, came outside upon hearing noises and was killed next. Their daughter, Agamoni Chakraborty Prarthi, followed and was also murdered.

Finally, the suspects killed their 12-year-old son, Ayush Chakraborty Priyam, after he recognized them. The duo then entered the house, looted gold ornaments along with other valuables, and fled the scene.

Police are investigating whether other individuals were involved or if additional motives existed behind the crime.

Police recovered the bodies of Ganapati Chakraborty Jewel, 65, his wife Pritilata Chakraborty Bala, 50, daughter Agamoni Chakraborty Prarthi, 25, and son Ayush Chakraborty Priyam, 12, late Saturday 

(August 22) night. Officers found Ganapati's body on the rooftop, his wife and daughter on the staircase leading to the roof, and his son under a bed.

Locals reported that the house remained locked from the outside for several days, with no family members seen in public after Thursday evening. Residents called police after noticing a foul odor coming from the residence around 9:00 PM on Saturday.

Pritilata's sister, Puja Chakraborty, said she last spoke with the family on Thursday night. She visited the locked house with her husband on Saturday night after failing to reach them by phone, only to find the main gate locked and the electrical connection severed before contacting emergency services.

Ganapati Chakraborty Jewel retired as a teacher from Rangpur Zilla School in December last year and later operated a homeopathy practice at Rangpur Samabay Market. His daughter Agamoni was an MA student in English at Carmichael College preparing for job examinations, while his son Priyam was a Class V student at Rangpur Zilla School.

-SA