They were arrested in Cox’s Bazar and Chittagong in multiple drives

The police in multiple drives arrested eight people including a Sramik League leader in Chittagong and Cox's Bazar in connection with Monday's double murder in the port city's Pahartoli area.

The arrestees are Md Elias, 45, general secretary of Sramik League's Pahartoli unit; Abdur Rahim alias Kartik Banik, 29; Raihan Uddin, 19; Biplab Mallik alias Biplab, 28; Rabiul Islam, 20; Shamim, 28; Rabiul Hasan Hridoy, 16; and Sagar Das, 20.

Ali Hossain, the deputy commissioner of the Chittagong port zone, said Elias was arrested in the Chakaria area of Cox's Bazar while the others were arrested in different parts of Chittagong.

On Monday, Sirajul Islam Sihab had an altercation with another young man, Rabiul Islam, while he was chatting with his girlfriend in front of the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium gate in the afternoon.

A scuffle took place between their respective groups. To settle the issue, Elias asked both groups to come to his office at the Bitak intersection in Pahartoli.

When both groups gathered at his office around 8pm, Elias asked his associates to beat up Sihab's group.

A chase and counter-chase ensued, and at one stage Elias' supporters hit two young men, Masum and Sajib, with sharp weapons, leaving them injured.

Later, they were taken to Chittagong Medical College and Hospital where the doctor on duty declared them dead.