Citizens' committee questions police handling of Rangpur family murders

Questioning the role of police in handling the murder of former schoolteacher Ganapati Chakraborty and his family members, the Rangpur Metropolitan Citizens' Committee on Tuesday demanded a judicial inquiry into the killings. The committee submitted a memorandum to the home minister through the Rangpur deputy commissioner. It also protested the release of Shanto, whom police had earlier identified as a drug dealer allegedly linked to the case. The committee alleged that police had given contradictory statements about the sensational murders and were trying to divert attention from the actual incident. It demanded action against the police officers responsible following an investigation. On August 22, the bodies of Ganapati, 65, a former teacher of Rangpur Zilla School, his wife Pritilata Chakraborty Bala, 50, daughter Agami Chakraborty Prarthi, 25, and son Ayush Chakraborty Priyam, 12, were recovered from their locked home in Machhuapara of Rangpur city. Within six hours of the murders, police arrested two suspects, Mugdha Das and Siddharth Das. At the time, Rangpur Metropolitan Police said the two had been caught by Ganapati while buying and consuming Yaba from a drug dealer named Shanto. Police said the suspects then strangled the teacher and his family members to death. Police also said the accused had mentioned buying drugs from Shanto in statements recorded under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure before a court. However, on Sunday, the Detective Branch (DB) of police brought Shanto before a court, where his statement was recorded under Section 164. Police later said Shanto was not an accused in the case but was made a witness and was released that night. The development raised questions among the victims' relatives and members of the local community. Rangpur Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (DB) Sonaton Chakroborty said Shanto gave a statement as a witness before the court and that no drugs were found in his possession when he was brought in. He did not explain the discrepancy between the latest police account and their earlier statements about Shanto. Advocate Palash Kanti Nag, general secretary of the Rangpur Metropolitan Citizens' Committee, said, 'Information about Shanto's involvement in drug dealing came from the statements of the accused and the police press conference. It is mysterious that he was made a witness and released without being arrested.' 'We demand an impartial judicial investigation to uncover the real perpetrators and the reasons behind the murders, and to take action against the police officers responsible,' he said.