Law enforcers arrested eight men accused in a case filed over Friday night's rape at the hostel of Murari Chand College in Sylhet. 

Rab arrested Tarequl Islam Tarek in Sunamganj's Derai upazila around 6:30pm yesterday, said ASP Obain Rakhaine of Rab-9.

Jyotirmoy Sarker, additional deputy commissioner of Sylhet Metropolitan Police, said, "All the named accused have been arrested. But after interrogating them, if we find any more people involved, we will arrest them too."

The five other named accused are Saifur Rahman, Shah Md Mahbubur Rahman Roni, Arjun Lasker, Robiul Islam and Mahfuzur Rahman Masum.

Earlier yesterday, Roni, Rajon and Ainuddin were taken to Sylhet Metropolitan Magistrate Court-2 where judge Saifur Rahman granted a five-day remand for each, said Assistant Public Prosecutor Khokhon Kumar Dutta.

On Monday, Saifur, Arjun and Robiul were also placed on 5-day remands by the court.

Following the rape on September 25, the husband of the victim filed the case with Shah Poran Police Station the same night, mentioning the names of six people and 2-3 unnamed men.

Moreover, finding direct connection with the case, another two—Rajon Miah and Md Ainuddin—were arrested.

To investigate the incident, a three-member probe body was formed on Monday night by the Department of Secondary and Higher Education (DSHE) of the Ministry of Education, headed by Shahedul Khabir Chowdhury, director (college and administration) of the DSHE.

The committee was given three working days for primary report and seven working days for the final report, Shahedul said, adding that the committee started working after reaching Sylhet yesterday.

ALLEGATIONS OF ATTEMPT TO COMPROMISE EVIDENCE

Meanwhile, some people alleged that police officials intentionally wasted time at the entrance of the college to let the rapists -- BCL men who were occupying rooms of the hostel -- compromise evidence of the crime and flee.

Mihit Guha Chowdhury Babla, former organising secretary of Bangladesh Chhatra League's Sylhet unit, said he saw the couple in a crowd in front of a shop near the college around 9:00pm on the night of the rape. The husband, who was tied up by the perpetrators during the incident, described the events.

The prime accused, Saifur, was calling the husband on the phone and threatening him to keep shut about the crime, Babla said, adding that he then took the phone and asked Saifur to stay where he was.

"I knew they would run away removing all evidence; along with some other locals, I rushed to the hostel with the victim and her husband. When we reached the spot, the rapists were still there, and hearing our shouts, they ran away leaving a motorcycle and all evidence, including the victim's car.

"I then called the officer-in-charge of Shah Poran Police Station, who took another half hour to reach the spot and waited for some more time to get permission to enter the hostel. Even after getting the permission, while other policemen entered the hostel, the OC did not enter for an hour or more. He was busy talking to some pro-Awami League leaders at the hostel gate," he said.

"I went to the hostel gate and saw two prominent leaders of Swechasebak League and Jubo League were discussing with the OC. Understanding their ill motive, I told the OC that if he compromised the case, I would file a complaint against him," he said.

Talking to several witnesses and BCL men of the college, this correspondent came to know that at least seven leaders -- including a top brass leader of the Swechasebak League's Sylhet city unit – were present at the hostel gate at the time.

OC Abdul Kaiyum Chowdhury however declined to answer questions regarding the matter and referred to the designated official for media relations, who also declined to comment on personal allegations.

Sohel Reza, deputy commissioner of Sylhet Metropolitan Police, said, "The OC reached the spot upon getting information, but when he realised that they would have to enter the hostel, they asked the college authority, as that's the regulation. Getting the permission…. police entered without any delay."