Raypur Four Murders: Attempt to Mislead by Posing as Pipe Fitter

PNN News Desk, Lakshmipur

New details are emerging regarding the brutal killing of a mother and her three daughters in Raypur municipal area of Lakshmipur. Locals say that during the incident, the accused, Antar Majumder, tried to handle the situation by introducing himself as a pipe and plumbing repair worker. However, his suspicious behavior raised doubts, and due to the alertness of a neighbor, he could not escape.

Neighbor Afroza Begum said she heard screams from inside the house several times and immediately went to the window. She called Shahinur Begum, but received no response. After some time, she saw a man moving inside the house. At first, she thought he was a family member, but when he did not respond, suspicion grew.

Afroza said she later saw the man standing near the window holding a pair of pants. When asked about his identity, he claimed to be a pipe and plumbing worker. However, his behavior made her more suspicious.

She added that at one point, complete silence fell inside the house. Fearing danger, she locked the door from outside and informed neighbors. Locals then entered the house and found Shahinur Begum and her three daughters lying dead in a pool of blood.

Sensing the presence of locals, accused Antar Majumder tried to escape to the rooftop. However, enraged locals caught him and beat him. He was rescued by police in critically injured condition and later died while undergoing treatment.

Police and local sources said Antar Majumder was a resident of Subarnachar upazila of Noakhali. In Raypur, he was known as a floating fruit seller. However, locals claim he once lived in the area for about a year under the Muslim identity “Zahir” with a woman.

The victims are Shahinur Begum (38), her elder daughter Saima Akter (20), a Dhaka University student; second daughter Iqra Begum (17), a 12th-grade student at Raypur Kazi Faruki College; and youngest daughter Sipa (9). Their ancestral home is in Homna upazila of Cumilla, but they had long been living in rented accommodation in Raypur.

After the death of the family’s sole earning member Kamal Hossain in 2019 due to electrocution, Shahinur had been running the household alone.

In protest of the killings and demanding exemplary punishment for the perpetrators, members of the Lakshmipur District Students’ Welfare Association held a human chain in front of Dhaka University’s Raju Sculpture.

After the incident, local Member of Parliament Abul Khayer Bhuiyan visited the scene and ordered a proper investigation. Earlier, the DIG of Chattogram Range also visited the site.

Raypur Police OC Shahin Mia said a sharp weapon used in the murder was recovered. Initial investigation suggests a single person carried out the killings. However, police, CID, and RAB teams are jointly investigating to determine the exact motive.

A murder case has been filed by the victim’s son Jihadul Islam Shifat. A separate case has also been filed by police regarding the mob beating death of the accused. Investigations into both cases are ongoing.