Outrage Over Hindu Family Massacre in Bangladesh: Two Suspects Arrested, Calls for Fair Probe

Dhaka: Questions are being raised on the police investigation in the case of murder of four members of a Hindu family in Rangpur, Bangladesh. Rangpur City Civic Society has expressed doubt on the police theory and demanded an impartial judicial inquiry into the entire matter.

On August 22, the decomposed bodies of retired Hindu teacher Ganpati Chakraborty (65), his wife Pritilata Chakraborty (50), daughter Ujjaya Chakraborty Prathi (23) and son Priyam Chakraborty (12) were recovered from a locked house in Rangpur.

In this case, the police have arrested two cousins ​​named Mugdho and Siddharth. However, human rights organisations 'Ain O Shalish Kendra' and 'Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council' have also raised questions on the statements put forward by the police.

Are people's trust in police investigations decreasing?

Rangpur City Civic Society said in the press conference organised on Saturday that the statements given by the police to the media after the arrest of two suspects have raised many questions in the minds of the people.

According to civic society, the different information revealed in the police statements about the incident has created doubt among the public. The organisation has demanded a judicial inquiry to remove this distrust and lack of transparency.

What was told in the police briefing of 23 August?

According to Civic Society, in its first briefing on August 23, the police had given information about different places regarding the incidents of murder.

According to the police, Ganapati Chakraborty was murdered on the terrace of the house. His wife and daughter were said to have been murdered on the stairs to the second floor. At the same time, it was reported that his 12-year-old son was murdered while sleeping inside the house.

How did the police statement change in the August 27 briefing?

The civic society claimed that in the second police briefing held on August 27, information regarding the location of the incident changed.

The second briefing said that Ganapati Chakraborty, his wife and his daughter, all three, were murdered on the open terrace of the house. This difference regarding the place of the incident in the first and second briefings has raised questions regarding the investigation.

Will there be a judicial inquiry into the entire matter?

Rangpur City Civic Society has demanded an impartial judicial inquiry into the entire murder in view of the questions being raised on the police investigation and the distrust among the public.

It is not clear from the information available at present what decision has been taken by the concerned authorities on the demand for judicial inquiry. Investigation is going on regarding the role of the two suspects arrested by the police in the case and the actual circumstances of the murder.