Police have arrested two young men in connection with the brutal killing in Rangpur of a schoolteacher, his wife and two other family members at a construction site, with investigators saying seemingly ordinary objects—including date seeds, a half-eaten cucumber and burnt bangles—helped uncover the alleged killers.
The incident took place in Machuapara of Rangpur city, where teacher Ganapati Chakraborty, his wife, their child and daughter were found dead inside a building under construction. The killings shocked the local community and triggered a major police investigation.
The two suspects arrested in connection with the case have been identified as Mugdha Das, 23, and Siddhartha Das, 19, who police said lived in the same neighbourhood as the victims.
Forensic Clues Lead Investigators Toward Suspects
According to police, several unusual items left behind at the crime scene became important clues during the investigation. Among them were date seeds, a partially eaten cucumber and bangles that appeared to have been burned.
Investigators reportedly sent the date seeds for DNA analysis as part of the forensic examination. Police also analysed information collected from people living in the surrounding area, along with other physical evidence recovered from the scene.
Authorities said the combination of forensic clues and local intelligence eventually helped investigators identify the two suspects.
The details were disclosed at a press conference on Sunday by Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner and Deputy Inspector General Mohammad Abdul Mabud.
Police Suspect Drug Use Triggered the Deadly Attack
Police said evidence suggesting yaba consumption was found at the location before or after the killings. Investigators believe the two suspects may have been sitting on the roof of the building and consuming yaba.
According to the police theory, Ganapati Chakraborty heard a noise and went upstairs to find out what was happening. When he questioned the young men, they allegedly feared that their identities would be exposed.
Police suspect that the teacher was attacked and killed first, after which the other members of his family were allegedly murdered one by one.
Investigators are continuing to examine the sequence of events and the precise circumstances surrounding each death.
Burnt Jewellery and Staged Robbery Raised Suspicion
Police said Siddhartha works as a craftsman at a jewellery shop. Investigators believe that after the killings, an ornament was subjected to fire, apparently as part of an attempt to examine or alter it.
This detail became another significant lead for investigators.
Police further alleged that the suspects attempted to make the incident appear to be a robbery. Household belongings were reportedly scattered and rearranged to create the impression that valuables had been searched for or stolen.
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Investigators also found that two mobile phones had been soaked in water mixed with detergent. Police believe the move was intended to destroy or remove fingerprints and other potentially useful forensic evidence.
Suspects Allegedly Hid After the Killings
Following the murders, police said both suspects fled the area. Investigators launched an operation based on information gathered during the probe and traced their movements.
Police said the two men had been hiding near a mulberry plantation belonging to the Bangladesh Sericulture Development Board. They were subsequently detained from the nearby Dakkhiganj cremation-ground area.
During interrogation, the suspects allegedly confessed to their involvement in the killings, according to police.
The authorities are now examining their statements against the physical and forensic evidence collected from the crime scene.
Investigation Continues Into Four Deaths
The Rangpur family murder has raised serious questions about the motive behind the killings and the extent of planning involved. Police are investigating whether the alleged drug use, fear of identification and the attempted robbery narrative were directly connected to the murders.
The recovery of forensic material and the analysis of objects left at the scene are expected to play an important role in establishing the sequence of events.
Authorities have stressed that the investigation is still underway and that evidence, including the DNA analysis of the recovered date seeds, will be crucial in strengthening the case.
The arrests have provided investigators with a major breakthrough in a case that initially appeared to have been a violent robbery. Police now hope that forensic findings and further questioning of the two suspects will reveal the full circumstances behind the deaths of Ganapati Chakraborty and his family members.
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