Most of the accused in the two cases filed for killing two Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal (JCD) leaders in Sylhet have yet been arrested, though police claim that they have been conducting drives to nab the murderers.

In the JCD leaderTouhidul murder case, police arrested Shoumen Dey, Bangladesh Chhatra League president of Sylhet MAG Osmani Medical College unit, on June 7 at

Sylhet Railway Station while fleeing.

On June 5, the case was filed with Sylhet Kotwali Police Station accusing him, college unit general secretary and 18 others for killing JCD's college unit entertainment secretary Touhidul Islam on June 4.

Shoumen was produced before a Sylhet court on June 8.

In his confessional statement, Shoumen had acknowledged that he along with 13 BCL men of the college unit was involved in the killing of Touhidul, said Md Ataur Rahman, officer-in-charge ofKotwali Police Station.

The BCL men demanded Tk 2 lakh from Touhidul, or else he would be barred from attending exam, the statement said. Though Touhidul paid them Tk 50,000, he was murdered for not paying the rest, it added.

Though one month has elapsed, police have made no headway in arresting the other accused in the case.

Sub-inspector Sirajul Islam, also investigation officer of the case, said they had launched several drives, but the accused remained at large.

However, JCD college unit President Aslamul Islam Rudro claimed police did not arrest the killers as they belonged to ruling Awami League-backed student organisation.

The deceased's elder sister Shirin Akhtar demanded fair probe and arrest of the killers.

In the JCD leader Zillu murder case, police arrested two JCD leaders of rival faction within half an hour after the killing while fleeing. Two blood-stained sharp weapons were also recovered from their possessions. But there

is no progress after that.

Zillul Haque Zillu, former JCD president of Govindaganj Degree College unit, was murdered in Pathantola area of Sylhet city on June 27.

Alleging the murder was a sequel to internal feud of the student organisation, the deceased's brother Ahmed Ahsan filed a case on June 28 accusing 32 rival JCD men including city unit Vice-president (VP) Mahbub Kadir Sahi and Madan Mohon College unit President Kazi Miraz, and VP Jamal Ahmed.

But, police could not arrest any of the other accused.

Investigation officer SI Shahin Uddin of Kotwali police claimed they had been trying to arrest the killers.

Zillu's father Nur Miah said he wanted to see the killers be tried and punished.

Contacted, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Sylhet Metropolitan Police (SMP) Mohammad Rahamat Ullah said senior officials including SMP commissioner had been monitoring the cases.

Police have been trying to arrest the killers, but they remain at large, the ADC added.