Bengal youth arrested for killing, burying four family members inside house

A 19-year-old man was arrested in West Bengal's Malda district on Saturday for allegedly killing four family members and burying them in a room of their house four months ago, police said.

The incident took place in Gurutola village in Kaliachak police station area, a senior officer said.

The bodies of accused Asif Mohammad's father Jawad Ali (50), mother Ira Bibi (45), sister Arifa Khatun (17) and grandmother Alekjan Bibi (75) were exhumed and sent for post- mortem examination, Superintendent of Police Alok Rajoria said.

The incident came to light after the accused's 21- year-old brother Arif Mohammad, who had managed to escape during the incident and changed locations during these four months, informed law enforcers at Kaliachak police station on Friday night.

''On February 28, Asif had served all the family members cold drinks spiked with sleeping pills. As they fell unconscious, he tied their hands and gagged their mouths with duct tapes. He then drowned the four persons in a reservoir in the house and buried the bodies in the floor of a room.

''The elder brother somehow managed to loosen his duct tape and escaped from the house after a brief physical struggle with the accused. He had gone to various places including Kolkata during these four months,'' the SP told reporters.

As per the preliminary investigation, the accused had demanded money from the deceased and several lakhs of rupees and electronic gadgets including a television set, phones, CCTV cameras and a laptop have been recovered from the house, Rajoria said, adding, that investigation is underway to ascertain the motive behind the murders.

The complainant has also been detained for questioning, Block Development Officer Mamun Akhtar said.

The accused had told the neighbours that his father, mother, sister and grandmother had gone to their flat in Kolkata, the BDO added.

Neighbours said that Asif had become a recluse and did not mix with people or allow anyone to enter the house.

''Asif used to only come out of the house to collect online food deliveries. When asked about his other family members, he would say they have gone to Kolkata,'' Mohammad Ali, a neighbour, said.

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