His (Arman) younger brother Raihan and brother-in-law Khorshed, two other criminals of Moghbazar in the capital, are now allegedly holding his illegal arms. Moreover, a large number of firearms of another top criminal, 'Pichchi' Hannan, who was killed in 'crossfire', are known to be in Arman's possession.

Sources said police and Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) are pressing Arman to give a confessional statement about the August 21 grenade attack on the Awami League (AL) rally in Dhaka, implicating some AL leaders.

A top Rab official however said, "They did not provide any information about Arman's involvement in the grenade attack. I do not know how others are getting such information."

Acting on a tip off from Arman, Criminal Investigation Department (CID) meanwhile arrested AL leader Mokhlesur Rahman on Friday and took him on a five-day remand yesterday, showing him arrested in the August 21 grenade attack case.

Some AL leaders of Moghbazar yesterday referred to newspapers reports quoting Rab sources as saying that Arman gave important information about the grenade attack incident. "Such reports indicate there is plot to implicate AL leaders in the case," one leader said wishing anonymity.

Mokhlesur, a former ward commissioner of Dhaka City Corporation and an uncle of Arman's arch-rival Tikka, was earlier quizzed by Rab soon after Arman's arrest. Tikka, an infamous criminal of Moghbazar, died on way to hospital after police shot him in Mirpur a few years ago.

A source close to an underworld gang said Arman can help police and Rab arrest many hardened criminals like Kala Jahangir and Imon as he had close links with them before his arrest. And he now continues his criminal activities including firearms smuggling, maintaining contacts with his godfathers and some dishonest policemen.

Arman's seven-day remand expired yesterday and he will be produced before the Court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Dhaka, today.

Our court correspondent reports: Investigation Officer (IO) of the August 21 grenade attack case ASP of the CID Abdur Rashid showed Mokhlesur arrested in the case, produced him before the Court of Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Dhaka and prayed for a seven-day remand. The court however granted a five-day remand.

The IO told the court Mokhlesur and his accomplices are learnt to have conspired to carry out the grenade attack.

He said police have to launch special drives in different parts of the country to detect and arrest others involved in the conspiracy, after verifying primary information received from Mokhlesur.

So far 12 people including Saibal Saha Partha were arrested in connection with the case but the probe made little headway.