Autopsy: Suffocation caused death

All four members of a Rangpur family found dead at their Machhuapara home were killed by suffocation, forensic examiners have confirmed, contradicting earlier police claims that chemicals were used in the killings.

Dr Bablu Kumar Biswas, assistant professor of forensic medicine at Rangpur Medical College, who conducted the autopsies, said the darkening of the victims’ faces resulted from natural decomposition rather than chemical burns.

“As blood decomposes, its colour gradually changes,” he said, adding that no signs of chemical use or broken jaws were found. Minor injuries on the bodies may have resulted from a struggle, he said. Samples have been sent to the CID laboratory for further analysis. No initial signs of rape were found on the two female victims, though decomposition and swelling made a definite conclusion difficult, Dr Bablu added.

CID Police Superintendent (acting) Sumit Chowdhury had earlier said investigators suspected chemicals had been used, with a final conclusion to follow the forensic report.

The investigation has been moved from Kotwali police station to the Rangpur Metropolitan Police’s Detective Branch on the police commissioner’s orders. DB Inspector Jinat has replaced Milon Chandra Chakrabarty, OC (investigation) of Kotwali Police Station, as investigation officer. 

The case was handed over around noon on Monday, after which Jinat and Milon visited the crime scene.

Questions have been raised after a police officer involved in the investigation and accused Siddhartha Das were seen wearing apparently similar shirts. 

Eyewitnesses said Sanatan Chakrabarty, deputy commissioner of Rangpur Metropolitan Police and Rangpur DB chief, was at the crime scene from around 11pm Saturday until Sunday dawn, while Siddhartha wore a similar-looking shirt when produced in court on Sunday noon.

Siddhartha’s brother, Partha, said police detained him in a black vest and that he had never seen him wearing the shirt. 

Sanatan denied giving Siddhartha the shirt, saying his own had been bought from the brand Arong and remained in his possession. “Many people can have shirts of the same design,” he said.