World Bulletin / News Desk

The alleged mastermind of the killing of seven people in Bangladesh, including a politician, has been arrested late Saturday in eastern India.

Nur Hossain was arrested for illegally entering Indian territory in West Bengal state's capital Kolkata, where he is believed to have gone into hiding after seven dead bodies were discovered by police in a river on April 30. Police took a pistol that was in his possession.

Hossain along with two associates have been taken to a local magistrate court on Sunday, where he was remanded in custody for eight days.

Seven people, including city councillor Nazrul Islam and lawyer Chandan Kumar Sarkar, were killed soon after they had been kidnapped on April 27 in Narayanganj, an industrial city near the capital Dhaka.

Bangladesh police had raided Hossain's house on May 3 but did not find him. Local member of parliament Shamim Osman claimed in local media that Hossain was responsible for the murders.

State Minister for Home Affairs Asaduzzaman Kamal told reporters this morning that Bangladesh has begun the process to bring Hossain back.

Although Bangladesh and India have an extradition treaty for criminals and terrorists "wanted" in each other's countries, Bangladesh has to place a formal request for Hossain's extradition.

Three senior officers from Bangladesh's elite Rapid Action Battalion have been arrested and remanded for questioning regarding the murders, and have been forced into retirement.