Five days after the bodies of four members of a family were recovered from their locked home in Rangpur, investigators have yet to seek court permission to send the seized evidence for forensic testing, raising questions over the pace of the investigation into the sensational quadruple murder.

Investigating agencies, however, say they have found no evidence so far suggesting the involvement of anyone other than the two arrested suspects, Siddhartha Das and Mugdha Das.

Both suspects have made confessional statements before a court, but the investigating officer plans to seek their remand for further interrogation on several issues before applying for permission to conduct forensic tests on the seized evidence.

Meanwhile, crematorium guard Bidyut Das has also given a statement under Section 164 before the court.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and Detective Branch (DB) have seized 35 pieces of evidence from the crime scene and related locations. The items include dates, cucumber, cigarettes, naan-roti from Polok Hotel, foil allegedly used to consume yaba, handwritten homework by victim Priyam dated 22 August, liquid found around Priyam’s body, clothing and other items.

Crime experts say forensic examination of the evidence, including DNA testing, could help establish whether anyone else was involved.

As of 7pm on Wednesday, however, the investigating agencies had not sought court permission to send the evidence for forensic examination.

CID and DB officials said the evidence would be sent to the CID laboratory after obtaining the necessary court permission.

Why remand sought despite confessions

Metropolitan DB OC and investigating officer Jinat Ali told Daily Sun that the seized evidence would be sent to the CID laboratory with court permission and in accordance with proper procedures.

“But before that, we want to get the accused on remand for interrogation. After further confirmation, we will apply to the court for forensic testing,” he said.

Asked why remand was necessary despite the suspects’ confessional statements, Jinat said investigators still had many questions to clarify.

“We feel the need for further interrogation. We will seek remand after discussing the matter with senior officials,” he said.

He added that after the remand hearing, investigators would apply to the court for permission to conduct forensic tests on the seized evidence and send it to the CID laboratory.

CID awaits forensic testing

Rangpur CID Office SP (acting) Sumit Chowdhury told Daily Sun that DNA testing could help determine whether anyone other than the two suspects was involved.

“If anyone beyond the two arrested individuals is involved, it will be revealed through DNA testing,” he said, referring to the food and cigarette-related evidence allegedly used by the suspects.

He said the CID laboratory handles evidence from numerous cases through a serialised system, covering forensic, photography and handwriting examinations, and that reports could therefore take time.

“Nevertheless, since this is a sensational case, CID and all units of Bangladesh Police are concerned,” Sumit said. “Perhaps once it is sent, we will ask for it to be expedited. But it has not been sent yet.”

Rangpur Metropolitan Police Deputy Commissioner (Intelligence) Sanatan Chakraborty also confirmed that the evidence had not yet been sent for forensic examination.

“Whether anyone else is involved will be known after forensic testing of the seized evidence,” he told Daily Sun.

He said the post-mortem examinations had been completed and the report received, while further steps regarding the evidence would be taken following instructions from senior authorities and the court.

Investigators confident about two suspects

Sources in the investigating agencies said that after interrogating Siddhartha and Mugdha and examining their confessional statements, investigators were now convinced that the two were directly involved in the killings.

Investigators are cross-checking information obtained during interrogation with the statements the suspects gave before the court, the sources said.

According to the sources, the killings took place in quick succession early on Friday. Ganapati was allegedly killed first at around 6am, followed by his wife Pritilata, daughter Agami and son Priyam. Investigators believe all four were strangled.

The autopsy report found no evidence of sexual assault or the use of chemicals, further narrowing the focus of the investigation, police said.

Sumit Chowdhury said the case was “more or less” on the path to detection and that no other suspect had so far emerged.

Sanatan Chakraborty said police had so far found no evidence suggesting the involvement of anyone other than Siddhartha and Mugdha.

He said the four victims were not killed simultaneously, as the killings occurred at different locations and at different times, making it possible for two people to have carried them out.

What the autopsy report says

A copy of the autopsy report obtained by Daily Sun contains details of ante-mortem and post-mortem findings.

Regarding 12-year-old Ayush Chakraborty Priyam, the report found blunt-force injuries with bruising on the head and chest. It also noted a fractured nasal cartilage and a flattened nose, indicating an injury caused by a hard blunt object or fist.

The report found multiple bruises on both sides of 60-year-old Ganapati Chakraborty’s head and a deep bruise on the left side of his chest.

Agami Chakraborty, 24, had swollen injuries or bruising on the right side of her face, including around the eye, cheekbone and chin.

The report said the cause of death was strangulation. A horizontal ligature mark encircling the neck was found on each body, along with haemorrhage in the underlying tissues and swelling of the trachea and oesophagus.

The findings were consistent with ligature strangulation using a soft and flexible object such as rope or cloth, according to the report.

No evidence of sexual assault

The sexual assault examination found no injuries to the external genitalia of Pritilata Chakraborty and Agami Chakraborty. Examination of vaginal swabs also found no spermatozoa.

Forensic Medicine Assistant Professor at Rangpur Medical College Hospital Dr Babul Kishore Kumar, who conducted the autopsies, said there were no signs suggesting rape.

“The swabs we sent for microbiological laboratory testing and microscopic examination also showed no such signs,” he said.

The doctor said the victims had suffered various blunt-force injuries, including on the head and chest, while all four had marks on their necks.

“Considering the injuries, we assume that mostly these deaths were caused by strangulation,” he said.

He said the injuries could have been caused during struggles between the victims and attackers. The injuries were caused by blunt force, but doctors could not identify any specific weapon.

“There were no cuts, tears or lacerations, only swelling and other blunt injuries,” he said.

The report also noted that the bodies were partially decomposed. The eyes had bulged, the mouths were open and the tongues were swollen and protruding. Exposed skin had darkened, while post-mortem blisters, marbling and maggot infestation were observed.

The internal organs had also undergone decomposition, with liquefaction of brain tissue and softening and swelling of the liver, spleen and kidneys.

Ganapati Chakraborty Jewel, a retired teacher of Rangpur Zila School; his wife Pritilata Chakraborty; their daughter Agami Chakraborty, who had recently completed her master’s degree in English from Carmichael College; and their 12-year-old son Ayush Chakraborty Priyam, a fifth-grade student at Rangpur Zila School, were found dead in their locked home in Machhuapara in Rangpur metropolis.

Police recovered the bodies after 11pm on Saturday.

Siddhartha Das and Mugdha Das were arrested on Sunday (23 August). The two confessed to the killings and gave statements under Section 164 before Judge Rafiqul Islam of Rangpur Metropolitan Magistrate Court-2 that night.

On Tuesday, Simanto, a friend of Siddhartha and Mugdha, also gave a statement before the same court as a witness. Investigators said the group had consumed yaba at Simanto’s house that night.