A gruesome murder and theft at the century-old central crematorium in Natore has sent shockwaves through the community. The body of Tarun Das, a long-time night dweller of the temple within the crematorium, was discovered under suspicious circumstances, while a significant quantity of brass, copper, and bronze utensils were reported stolen. The police and investigative agencies are treating the case as a premeditated murder linked to theft.
Incident Timeline and Discovery of the Body
On the morning of December 21, 2024, police recovered the body of Tarun Das from the crematorium premises. Tarun Das, approximately 45 years old, had been staying in the temple at the crematorium for the past 24 years. According to BBC Bangla, local authorities were alerted, and members of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and crime scene experts arrived from Rajshahi to examine the location.
Akhtar Jahan Sathi, the Executive Officer of Natore Sadar Upazila, told BBC Bangla that initial findings suggest that the murder took place in connection with a theft. She mentioned, “CID has inspected the site. It appears that the perpetrators killed him while committing the robbery. The deceased had some mental health issues but used to stay inside the temple at night.”
Initially, rumors spread that Tarun Das was a temple caretaker, but according to temple committee president Subal Das, he was not an official caretaker but had been spending nights at the temple for over two decades. Natore Sadar Police Station’s Officer-in-Charge (OC) Mahbubur Rahman confirmed that an investigation was underway and efforts were being made to apprehend those responsible for the crime (BBC Bangla, December 21, 2024).
Details of the Theft and Murder
Further investigations revealed that the victim, identified as Tarun Kumar Das (60), was a long-serving guard of the crematorium for 25 years. His body was found with his hands and feet tied on the crematorium’s ‘Bhog Ghar’ veranda on the morning of December 21. The police believe he was murdered the previous night, on December 20 (Prothom Alo, December 21, 2024).
Satyanarayan Roy, the General Secretary of the Crematorium Committee, stated that on the morning of December 21, other temple employees noticed that the donation box and storage room locks were broken, and the metal grills were cut. Upon further inspection, they found Tarun’s body bound and lying on the veranda. It was suspected that he was killed for witnessing the robbery.
His younger brother, Pradeep Kumar Das, confirmed that Tarun had been guarding the temple and lived there full-time. His son, Tapu Das, expressed disbelief and demanded justice, stating, “My father was an innocent man. He had no enmity with anyone. We never imagined someone would kill him like this.”
Officer-in-Charge Mahbubur Rahman of Natore Sadar Police Station confirmed that forensic evidence pointed to a robbery. The police recovered some items from the crime scene and sent Tarun’s body for an autopsy at Natore Modern Sadar Hospital (Prothom Alo, December 21, 2024).
Breakthrough in the Investigation: A Suspect Apprehended
Nearly three weeks later, on January 10, 2025, the police made a significant breakthrough in the case by arresting a suspect, Sabuj Hossain (24). According to Natore’s Superintendent of Police (SP) Marufat Hossain, Sabuj was part of a six-member gang responsible for the crime. He was captured in Chattogram’s Shah Amanat area while allegedly attempting to flee the country (Prothom Alo, January 10, 2025).
During interrogation, Sabuj admitted that on the night of December 20, he and his accomplices entered the crematorium after stealing a sack of lemons from a nearby orchard. The gang consumed marijuana before deciding to rob the temple. They broke into the temple by cutting the grill and stealing the donation box’s money and metal utensils. As they carried out the crime, Tarun Das unexpectedly entered the temple.
Realizing that he had witnessed their actions, the gang overpowered him, tied his hands and feet, and gagged him. The police report states that he died due to suffocation. Following the murder, the culprits fled the scene with the stolen items.
SP Marufat Hossain confirmed that Sabuj’s confession aligned with the forensic and circumstantial evidence gathered by the police. Law enforcement agencies are currently pursuing the remaining five suspects involved in the crime (Prothom Alo, January 10, 2025).
Conclusion: Ongoing Investigation and Search for Justice
The murder of Tarun Das highlights a disturbing trend of targeted crimes against individuals protecting religious and cultural sites in Bangladesh. While the police have made progress by arresting one suspect, five more remain at large. Authorities are working to track down the rest of the perpetrators and ensure justice for the victim and his family.
Date: 12 January, 2025
