The arrestees -- Abdur Razzak Sarkar alias Art Babu, Mahfuzur Rahman Jewel and Badiul Alam Pintu -- also talked about the PBCP hideouts in and around the northwestern region.

Police also gathered some more information from documents seized in the PBCP Rajshahi regional headquarters recently.

But top police officials declined to disclose the names of the godfathers or give details of the information they got.

Art Babu and Jewel were arrested by Ramna police in Dhaka on May 22 and Pintu from Hajrapukur in Rajshahi on May 28.

Pintu, now on a seven-day police remand, might be sent to the Joint Interrogation Cell in Dhaka.

Police sources said they are now conducting a massive drive to track down Abdus Salam alias Tapu, the most wanted person in the list of Rajshahi district police, a 'serial killer' and former PBCP regional commander.

Acting on information received from Art Babu and Jewel, police raided a house at Hajrapukur to nab Tapu but failed.

Tapu used to live in the house with PBCP leader Tapan of Khulna. Tapan was once arrested in Khulna but his accomplices snatched him away from court. He later came to Rajshahi and took charge as Rajshahi regional commander of the PBCP (Janajuddha).

The sources also said Tapu himself slaughtered at least 50 people. Art Babu said Tapu used to slaughter 'class enemies' with his own hands.

Rajshahi police have announced an award of Tk 5,000 for information leading to his arrest.

Meanwhile, police seizure of a passport of Tapu on May 28 from Hajrapukur office of the PBCP has raised questions as to how such a criminal managed to get passport that require police enquiry.

Sources said Boalia police here made the enquiry about Tapu before issuance of his passport in 2002. Tapu used the name Ranjan Kumar Saha in the passport but gave his own photo.