Rangpur Correspondent

A retired schoolteacher, his wife, and their two children were found dead late Saturday night inside their locked home in Rangpur city, sending shockwaves through the local community.

Police recovered the bodies around 11:30 PM from the Daspara (Machhuapara) neighborhood under Rangpur Metropolitan Kotwali Police Station.

The deceased were identified as Ganapati Chakraborty, 65, a retired teacher of Rangpur Zilla School; his wife, Pritilata Chakraborty, 50; their daughter, Agami Chakraborty Prarthi, 23; and their 12-year-old son, Priyam Chakraborty.

Police, along with specialized units from the Crime Scene Division (CID) and Detective Branch (DB), launched a joint investigation into the deaths.

According to Subir Chowdhury, in-charge of the Rangpur Metropolitan CID, the mother and daughter were found lying on the staircase, while the father’s body was recovered from the rooftop. The young boy’s body was discovered hidden under a bed.

“The household belongings were scattered in total disarray. At first glance, it appears to be a case of robbery. However, we cannot confirm anything until our investigation is complete,” Chowdhury said.

Sanatan Chakrabarty, Deputy Commissioner of Rangpur Metropolitan Police (DB), said the preliminary evidence points to strangulation, with the killings likely taking place between late Thursday night and early Friday morning. The bodies have been sent to the Rangpur Medical College Hospital morgue for autopsies.

A Quiet Family Cut Short

Local residents said Ganapati had retired from Rangpur Zilla School on December 31 last year. Following his retirement, he began practicing homeopathic medicine. His daughter, Agami, had recently earned her master’s degree in English from Rangpur Carmichael College, while his son, Priyam, was a Class 5 student at Rangpur Zilla School.

The family had built an unfinished three-storey house in Daspara four years ago. Neighbors described Ganapati as polite and courteous, though the family kept largely to themselves.

Relatives grew worried after failing to reach the family over the weekend.

Puja Chakraborty, Pritilata’s younger sister, said she last spoke to her sister on Thursday afternoon. By Thursday night, all four mobile phones belonging to the family members were switched off.

“We came to Daspara on Saturday night after we couldn’t get through to them,” Puja said. “The main gate was locked and the lights were off. Police arrived, broke open the lock, and found the bodies inside. I cannot comprehend who would do this to my sister’s family. My brother-in-law was a gentle man with no known enemies.”

Soma Chakraborty, Ganapati’s niece, echoed similar grief, stating her uncle had maintained good relations with everyone in the community.

Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mohammad Abdul Mabud assured that the case is receiving top priority.

“We will have clearer answers regarding the cause of death once the autopsy reports are handed over,” Commissioner Mabud said. “Our Detective Branch teams are actively working in the field to identify the perpetrators and bring them to justice.”