Police have scaled up the manhunt for other culprits who went into hiding after assaulting an Iranian couple in Cox's Bazar Sunday night.

Honeymooning tourists Abbas Ibrahim Jamshed and his wife Mariam Shahbaji came under attacks allegedly by some activists of the Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) in the resort town, police said.

Meantime, five JCD leaders and activists arrested for the assault on the Iranian couple were sent to jail custody after police produced them before the court here, police said.

Cox's Bazar Police Station said the accused might be placed on remand for interrogation.

The Iranian couple had left for Dhaka after their statements were recorded at the court.

Vice-President of Cox's Bazar unit of JCD Amir Ali was arrested Sunday night following his attempt

to snatch his younger brother Shawkat and his accomplices from Cox's Bazar Police Station. Shawkat and his accomplices were arrested for assaulting and mugging the Iranian tourists in front of a petrol pump in the town.

Also arrested were eight other JCD activists for attacking the police station.

The attack that imploded into a pitched battle between the activists and police left scores, including some police personnel, injured.

Police initiated two cases under the PSA -- one for the assault and the other for the attacks on the police station.

Security was tightened in the town in the wake of heightened tension.

On Sunday evening, backed up by his accomplices, Shawkat beat Jamshed up in a bid to mug him

admitted to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH). No case was filed till writing of this report in the afternoon.

In another incident, armed terrorists belonging to 'Aziz Bahini' shot a JCD activist in Bazarchhari area of Haldaia union under Raozan upazila at around 10.00am yesterday. The victim was identified as Mohiuddin, 20,

Salahuddin, elder brother of Mohiuddin, said a gang of 10 terrorists including Manik, Jakir, Haroon and Alamgir of Aziz Bahini, which is now being patronised by BNP leader Salahuddin Quader Chowdhury, called his brother out of their house and demanded Tk 10 thousand as toll.

"As my brother refused to oblige, the terrorists shot him in the abdomen, said Shahabuddin.

Mohiuddin was operated upon at CMCH yesterday noon.