Police and Rab officials yesterday contradicted the home boss' claim that law enforcers have arrested several identified culprits who molested some

women during the Pahela Baishakh celebration.

Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, state minister for home, made the claim in parliament, replying to a question from independent lawmakerTahjib Alam Siddique.

“The inspector general of police has identified some people. We have caught some of them. So I can assure you ... we have identified them and brought them to justice and we

will do the same for the rest one or two [still at large)," Kamal said.

But DMP Deputy Commissioner (Media) Muntasirul Islam and Rab Media and Legal Wing Director Mufti Mahmud

Khan toldlhe Daily Star last night that they were yet to arrest anyone in connection with the sexual assault on April 14. A senior police official said they had detained several people for interrogation but later released them.

Another police official, involved in the investigation, said last night that there was no one in their custody at the moment.

More than a month after the assault, the IGPonMayl7 released photographs of eight alleged molesters, identified from the footage of CCTV cameras installed in TSC area on the Dhaka University campus. The police boss also announced Tk 1 lakh bounty on each for information leading to their arrest.

Late last month, DMP Spokesperson Monirul Islam told this correspondent that they quizzed seven persons who looked like those seen on the footage attacking women, but later released them as they turned out to be the "wrongguys".

Contacted later at night, the state minister said soon after the incident some people were arrested although they were not among the eight identified by the police from the footage.

"What I said [in parliament! is that police arrested several people immediately after the assault and police are now hunting eight people they identified," he told this correspondent by phone.

Despite numerous eyewitness accounts, police had initially denied that women were molested and groped by some organised gangs of rowdy men, but eventually admitted it

During the assault, police even allegedly released several suspected perpetrators who were caught and handed by some

youths over to the police.

An internal investigation later found three cops failed to do their job during the assault. The probe committee recommended action against them, but the authorities are still sitting on the recommendations.