Family members and local people have alleged that the body of farmer Ranjit Chandra Roy was hung from a tree branch after killing him at Shialkhowa village of Kaliganj upazila under the district on December 8.

“We lodged a murder case but police recorded it as an unnatural death (UD) case,” said Ranjit's elder brother Sudhir Chandra Roy.

The body of farmer Ranjit Chandra Roy, 48, son of late Sharot Chandra Roy, was found hanging from a jackfruit tree beside the home of Babu Islam, son of Syed Ali, about a quarter kilometre off the victim's home at the village on the morning of December 8, police said.

Slain Ranjit's son Subrata Chandra Roy, 20, said, his father was murdered and then the body was hung in an attempt to pass it off as suicide.

“There were marks of assault in his body and earth was found in his two hands and two legs. The hanging rope was also covered with mud,” he said.

Ranjit's wife Bharati Rani Roy told this correspondent, “Police investigation regarding the incident seems to be eyewash. Case Investigation Officer SI Raju Ahmed visited us two times but we could not give statement freely as the officer was accompanied by suspected killers.”

However SI Raju Ahmed of Kaliganj Police Station said, “I don't know how some people got information about my presence for investigation at the slain farmer's home. I will visit late Ranjit's house again for recording statement of family members.”

Ranjit's younger son Partho Roy said, “The day before my father was killed, Babu Islam, son of Syed Ali, came to our home and gave threat to our father when he was working in the adjacent crop field.”

Contacted, Babu Islam declined to talk with the journalist in this regard.

Kaliganj Police Station Officer in Charge Maqbul Hossain said, “We are waiting for the post-mortem report to ascertain whether it is murder or suicide. Police will take necessary legal step following the report.”