Retired teacher Ganapati Chakraborty, his wife and their two children were killed on the open rooftop of their house in broad daylight, Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Mohammad Abdul Mabud said on Thursday.

He disclosed the new information at a press briefing around 10 am, citing statements allegedly made by the accused before a court.

According to Commissioner Mabud, Ganapati went to the rooftop for his morning walk on the day of the incident and found accused Siddhartha Das (23) and Mugdha Das (19) there.

When Ganapati scolded them, the two allegedly strangled him with a gamcha (towel).

Hearing Ganapati’s screams, his wife Pritilata and daughter Parthi Chakraborty came to the rooftop, where the accused also allegedly strangled them, the commissioner said.

Police said the bodies of the two women were later dragged towards the rooftop staircase.

Commissioner Mabud said the accused had gone to the rooftop to take yaba, as the walls and a water tank provided them with privacy.

He said Siddhartha told the court that the two had consumed eight yaba tablets that night, which was more than they had ever taken before.

“They did not realise that dawn had broken,” the commissioner said, quoting Siddhartha’s statement.

After killing the three family members on the rooftop, the accused allegedly entered Ganapati’s room, where his 12-year-old son Priyam was sleeping.

Police had previously said the child was attacked while asleep. However, according to Siddhartha’s statement before the court, Priyam woke up, saw him and asked, “Siddhartha dada, why are you here?”

Police said the accused then strangled the child with a piece of cloth to prevent him from raising an alarm.

Mabud said investigators are also examining two possible motives behind the killings.

One of the possible motives relates to a piece of ancestral land that Ganapati’s family had allegedly purchased.

According to the commissioner, some family co-sharers may not have received their due share of money from the sale of the land, which could have created resentment.

The commissioner also said Ganapati’s family belonged to the Brahmin community, while most residents of the Machuapara area belonged to the Das community, adding that there was limited social interaction between the families.

Commissioner Mabud did not take questions from journalists following the briefing and left the venue.

The bodies of Ganapati Chakraborty (65), his wife Pritilata Chakraborty (50), daughter Parthi Chakraborty Agami (25) and son Priyam Chakraborty Ayush (12) were recovered from the house on Saturday night.

A case was filed over the killings, and the investigation was initially transferred from the police station to the Detective Branch of Rangpur Metropolitan Police.

Police said two accused have given confessional statements before a court under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.

On Monday, the investigation was transferred from Kotwali police to the Detective Branch of Rangpur Metropolitan Police.