Rangpur quadruple murder: Ganapati, wife and daughter killed on rooftop in daylight, says police

Retired teacher Ganapati Chakraborty, his wife and daughter were killed on the open rooftop of their house in broad daylight, Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mohammad Abdul Mabud said today (27 August).

He disclosed the new information at a press briefing around 10am, citing statements reportedly made by the accused before a court.

The commissioner said Ganapati went to the rooftop for his morning walk on the day of the incident and found accused Siddhartha Das, 23, and Mugdha Das, 19, there.

When he scolded them, they strangled him with a towel.

Hearing Ganapati's screams, his wife Pritilata and daughter Parthi Chakraborty came to the rooftop, where the accused also strangled them, Commissioner Mabud said. Police said the women's bodies were later dragged towards the rooftop staircase.

Commissioner Mabud said the accused had gone to the rooftop to take yaba as the walls and water tank provided them with privacy.

He said Siddhartha told the court that the two had consumed eight yaba tablets that night, more than they had ever taken before.

"They did not realise that dawn had broken," the commissioner said, quoting the statement.

The commissioner said the accused then entered Ganapati's room, where his 12-year-old son Priyam was sleeping. Police had previously said the child was attacked while asleep.

However, according to Siddhartha's court statement, Priyam woke up, saw him and asked, "Siddhartha dada, why are you here?"

Police said the accused strangled the child with a piece of cloth to prevent him from raising an alarm.

Mabud said investigators are also examining two possible motives behind the killings.

One concerns a piece of ancestral land that Ganapati's family had allegedly purchased.

According to the commissioner, some family co-sharers may not have received their due share of the money from the sale, potentially creating resentment.

Mabud said Ganapati's family belonged to the Brahmin community, while most residents of the Machuapara area belonged to the Das community, and there was limited social interaction between the families.

The commissioner did not take questions from journalists after the briefing and left the venue.

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

A case was filed, and the investigation was transferred from the police station to the Detective Branch of Rangpur Metropolitan Police.

Police said the two accused gave confessional statements before a court under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

On Monday, the investigation was transferred from Kotwali police to the Detective Branch of Rangpur Metropolitan Police.