Rangpur Metropolitan Police (RPMP) Commissioner Mahbubur Rashid has vowed to uncover the actual motive behind the killing of four members of a family in the city and bring those responsible to justice.
The newly appointed commissioner made the remarks on Friday afternoon after inspecting the crime scene at Machuapara in Rangpur city.
“I came here to inspect the crime scene. The incident and the case are important. The investigation is ongoing. Many questions will arise during the course of the investigation, and it is our responsibility to find professional answers to those questions. We are working on that,” he said.
Mahbubur Rashid said the sensational killings were being investigated with the utmost importance and that police would examine all claims and information surrounding the case.
“There has been a lot of discussion across the country about this case. We want to collect evidence related to every claim and, through proper accountability, take the case to its logical conclusion and submit a charge sheet before the court so that justice can be ensured,” he said.
The commissioner also ruled out any negligence in investigating the case.
“All necessary technological and intelligence support is being used in the investigation. If any new clue emerges, let us know and we will investigate it. This is the job of the police, but we need cooperation from everyone,” he said.
Allegation of evidence being destroyed
Asked about allegations by the family of accused Siddhartha Das that police had washed the roof of teacher Ganapati Chakraborty’s house with water and destroyed evidence, the commissioner said he had also heard the allegation.
“I only joined in Rangpur yesterday. There is nothing to wash away from the evidence. It is a crime scene, and the evidence has been collected,” he said.
The investigation into the high-profile case has meanwhile been transferred from Kotwali Police Station to the Detective Branch (DB).
Zinat Ali, officer-in-charge of the Metropolitan Police Detective Branch, has been appointed as the new investigating officer.
Drug abuse a national problem
Mahbubur Rashid also said drug abuse was not only a problem in Rangpur but a national social problem.
“I sat with my officers this morning and discussed the issue with them. I have given them some time. Hopefully, you will see a change within a week,” he said.
Four family members killed
The four members of the family were found dead at their home in Daspara, Machuapara, in the Kamal Kachna area of Rangpur city.
On Saturday night, August 22, Puja Chakraborty called her sister Pritilata Chakraborty. When her sister’s phone was switched off, she called her brother-in-law, their daughter and their son one after another. All of their phones were also found switched off.
Puja then went to her sister’s house. After receiving no response despite calling at the gate, she informed police.
Police later went to the house and recovered the bodies of retired teacher Ganapati Chakraborty Jewel, 65, his wife Pritilata Chakraborty Bhola, 50, their postgraduate student daughter Agami Chakraborty Prarthi, 25, and their fifth-grade student son Ayush Chakraborty Priyam, 12.
Two men, Mugdha Das, 23, son of Kanudas, and Siddhartha Das, 19, son of Binay Chandra Das, were detained from the same area early Sunday morning.
The bodies were handed over to the family members on Sunday afternoon after autopsies. Their last rites were later performed at around 10:30pm at the Dakkhiganj cremation ground in the city.
On Sunday afternoon, Gopinath Chakraborty, elder brother of one of the victims, filed a murder case at Kotwali Police Station against unidentified persons.
Later that night, the two accused reportedly confessed to the killings before a court in statements recorded under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. They were subsequently sent to jail.
