Newly appointed Rangpur Metropolitan Police (RpMP) Commissioner Mahbubur Rashid, who joined the post yesterday, today inspected the scene where four members of the same family were murdered in the city’s Daspara (Machhuapara) area, saying it was too early to comment on the case.
“This is a sensational case, and various things are being discussed about it across the country. It would be premature to say anything about the case at this stage. Basically, I have come to the scene to understand the case,” he said.
“We are investigating all information related to the case with due importance,” he added.
Other senior metropolitan police officers, along with the investigating officer, were present during the visit.
Asked about reports that evidence at the crime scene had been washed away with water, he said he had also heard the claim but that there was no clear evidence to support it.
“Besides, there is no reason to wash away evidence. All evidence collected from the crime scene remains preserved in our custody. Even so, I will look into the matter,” he said.
“The investigation is ongoing. Since joining, I have only come to inspect the scene. The previous commissioner had been providing updates on the progress of the investigation from time to time, and for now, I would like to leave it at that. If any clue emerges, it will be thoroughly examined,” he said.
Asked whether evidence collected from the crime scene had been sent to the CID forensic laboratory, Mahbubur said, “I have just joined, so I do not yet have any clear information about this. I will find out.”
He said police were considering all information and claims that had emerged in connection with the killings of the four family members.
“We are taking into consideration everything that has been said about the four-murder case and investigating all aspects of it. All information will be analysed and examined, and once the investigation reaches the appropriate stage, a charge sheet will be prepared to help ensure justice,” he said.
Police recovered the bodies of former Rangpur Zilla School teacher Ganapati Chakrabarty, 65, his wife, Pritilata Chakrabarty, 50, their daughter, Agami Chakrabarty, 25, and son, Priyam Chakrabarty, 12, from their house and rooftop at around 11:00pm on August 22.
Police said the four were strangled to death on the morning of August 21.
In connection with the killings, police arrested two youths from the same area -- Siddhartha Das, 19, and Mugdha Das, 23 -- in the early hours of Sunday. Police said the two confessed to the killings in statements recorded before a court under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. However, the arrested youths were not presented before journalists or allowed to speak to the media.
Questions surrounding the murders have intensified after former RpMP Commissioner Mohammad Abdul Mabud gave differing accounts of aspects of the case at two separate press briefings on August 22 and August 27.
