Police have claimed to have solved the killing of a retired schoolteacher and three members of his family in Rangpur, saying the victims were murdered after confronting two neighbours who had allegedly gone to their rooftop for consuming yaba.

Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mohammad Abdul Mabud disclosed the details at a press briefing on Sunday, saying two suspects — Mugdho Das and Siddhartha — had been arrested in connection with the killings. The two are reportedly maternal cousins.

Family allegedly killed after confronting yaba consumers

According to police, the incident took place late on Thursday night when Mugdho and Siddhartha allegedly climbed onto the rooftop of the family’s two-storey house in the Machuapara area of Rangpur city to consume yaba, a methamphetamine-based drug.

Hearing a noise on the rooftop, Ganapati went upstairs wearing a towel around his neck. The suspects allegedly used the towel to strangle him, according to the police account.

After hearing the commotion, Pritilata went to the rooftop but was attacked and killed on the staircase, police said.

Their daughter Prarthi also came out after hearing the noise and was allegedly attacked by the suspects. Police said the two men struggled with her for several minutes before eventually strangling her with a rope.

The couple’s 12-year-old son Priyam was allegedly killed afterwards because the suspects feared he could identify them.

Police said the younger brother of one of the suspects used to play with Priyam, and the accused feared that the boy could disclose their identities.

Commissioner Mabud became emotional while describing the killing of the child at the press briefing.

Police initially suspected robbery

The quadruple murder came to light on Saturday night after relatives became concerned when the family members could not be reached by phone for several days.

The house was found locked from outside. A relative looked through a window and noticed that rooms inside were in disarray, prompting police to break open the lock and enter the house.

Ganapati’s body was found on the rooftop, while those of his wife and daughter were recovered from the staircase. Priyam’s body was found underneath a bed inside a room.

Police initially suspected that the killings might have been linked to a robbery because the electricity supply had been cut and furniture and belongings appeared to have been disturbed.

Investigators now believe, however, that the scene was deliberately rearranged to make the killings appear to have been committed during a robbery.

Suspects allegedly known to victims

Police said the two suspects were known to the family and lived in the same neighbourhood.

They reportedly addressed Ganapati as “sir” and his wife as “kaki”, suggesting that they were familiar with the victims.

After the killings, the suspects allegedly remained inside the house for some time. According to police, they bathed, ate breakfast and continued consuming yaba before leaving the premises.

Ganapati had retired from teaching and was reportedly running a homoeopathic practice from his residence.

The investigation is continuing, police said, while investigators are examining further evidence and the precise circumstances surrounding the killings.