Police yesterday claimed to have arrested five youths who, in two separate incidents, allegedly killed two women after rape in the capital recently.

A police team arrested Jamal Khan Patwari and Rajib Haider raiding Savar and Fatullah areas on Tuesday in connection with the murder of their acquaintance Parul Begum. Her body was found at her house in East Jurain area on June 18.

On that day, the accused visited Parul's house in the absence of her husband and fed her sedatives mixed in food they had taken with.

Then they raped the woman and strangulated her to death, said Farid Uddin Ahmed, deputy commissioner of Wari Division Police.

The other three -- Jakir Sikder, Rafiqul Islam Shamim, and Mofiz Uddin Sagar -- were arrested in Jatrabari and Kadamtali areas. They allegedly raped garment factory employee Farida Begum in turn in Jurain area on July 10.

As she shouted for help, Sagar stabbed her while Shamim hit her in the head with a stone and Jakir strangulated her, leaving her dead, said the DC.

While briefing newsmen at the DMP Media Centre, the police officer said the accused killed the women to cover up their crime.