FROM PAGE 1

Police arrived soon after.

Niamatpur Police Station Officer-in-Charge Mahbubur Rahman said Habibur and his children were killed inside a room, while Popy, who appeared to have tried to flee, was chased down and slain in the yard.

Investigators and relatives suspect the murders resulted from a bitter land feud with their relatives.

Family sources said Habibur, the only son of 70-year-old Namir Uddin, had long-standing disputes with his five sisters after receiving the largest share of property. Police said this created deep resentment among the sisters.

Popy’s mother, Sabina Begum, wept as she spoke to journalists.

“They [Habibur’s sisters] have been abusing my daughter for a long time. They together killed my daughter, my son-in-law, and my grandchildren over a land-related dispute,” she alleged.

Her father, Moazzem Hossain, said, “They beat my daughter a few days ago. They even tried to kill her in the past. I want justice.”

Namir Uddin, who was sleeping in another room, said, “I could not understand when my son, daughter-in-law, and grandchildren were killed. I woke up hearing a commotion after the neighbours saw the bodies early in the morning.”

Police have detained the five sisters for interrogation. OC Mahbubur said the nature of the killings did not suggest robbery.

No case had been filed as of 8:30pm yesterday.

Naogaon Superintendent of Police Mohammad Tarequl Islam said, “Initially, we suspect the murder took place due to a land-related dispute among siblings. Several units of police are investigating.”

Assistant SP Abdullah Al Mahmood Shawon said the bodies were sent to the hospital morgue for autopsy and expressed hope of significant progress in the investigation within 48 hours.