Ten days after the brutal killing of Ganapati Chakraborty and three members of his family in Rangpur, police are still working to establish the true motive behind the tragedy.
Investigators remain undecided on whether the horrific incident was a calculated assassination or a botched robbery.
Two suspects, Siddhartha Das and Mugdha Das, recently gave confessional statements in court, claiming they murdered the family after being caught consuming Yaba, a potent drug, inside the home. Their account aligns with an earlier statement by the Metropolitan Police Commissioner.
However, senior investigators are treating this explanation with caution. Specialised police units are currently pursuing several lines of inquiry to determine whether the pair acted on behalf of an unidentified mastermind.
A critical angle centers on a fixed-deposit account holding Tk14.58 lakh in Ganapati Chakraborty’s name. Although the family had planned to withdraw the funds, the transaction was never completed.
Detectives are examining whether the suspects caught wind of the intended withdrawal and carried out the attack under the false assumption that the cash was hidden inside the property.
The investigation has been complicated by local silence and intricate social ties. Several neighbours, including Siddhartha’s own parents, reportedly heard screams during the assault.
However, residents are now noticeably reluctant to cooperate with police. In one instance, a neighbour living north of the property claimed she was assaulted by her husband after admitting to hearing commotion on the night of the attack, prompting her to stay silent.
Furthermore, intermarriages between the victims’ neighbours and the suspects’ families have created a wall of silence.
Following a court order, a three-member Detective Branch (DB) team from Rangpur Metropolitan Police, comprising case investigator Inspector Jinnat Ali, Sub-Inspector Mominul Islam, and Abu Saeed Babla, interrogated Siddhartha and Mugdha at Rangpur Central Jail on Tuesday afternoon.
A second three-hour session is scheduled for Wednesday.
While officers withheld details regarding new leads, Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner Tofail Ahmed assured the public that the investigation was progressing professionally.
Technical evidence has provided vital clues. Analysis revealed that the two suspects exchanged 51 phone calls between the afternoon of 20 August, the day of the killings, and the evening of 22 August.
Furthermore, when Siddhartha was initially detained, officers noted extensive scratch marks on his body and fingernails. Consequent face-to-face questioning led to confessions, allowing DB officers to recover stolen gold jewellery buried behind Siddhartha’s uncle’s residence.
Speaking to TIMES of Bangladesh, Rangpur Metropolitan Police spokesperson Sanatan Chakraborty expressed confidence in the investigation’s direction.
“We are on the right track. The investigation is progressing properly, and key evidence has been secured for the forthcoming charge sheet,” he said, emphasising that anyone found to have orchestrated or instigated the murders would face full legal accountability.
