A team of Rab-2 arrested Mohammad Zinnah, assistant organising secretary of ward 72 unit of the city BNP, Tuesday evening and took him to Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH) at 12:15am with his both legs covered in red bruises. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.

The death count in the Rab custody now rose to 17.

A Rab media cell official said Zinnah, accused of two criminal charges, was arrested, as his operative Palash told Rab about his arms cache. The Rab arrested Palash the same night from Dhanmondi with a 9mm pistol.

"Following Zinnah's statement, the Rab raided three spots to recover the arms, but returned empty-handed," Addition Superintendent of Police Mosleh Uddin of Rab media cell told The Daily Star yesterday.

During the raids, Zinnah started sweating and was sent to DMCH where he died, he added.

Bappi, president of the Jubo Dal unit of the ward 72, along with several activists of Jagannath University College beat up Zinnah, allegedly a cadre of local commissioner, with a bench on the college premises on August 31 over a tender business.

Kotwali police said Zinnah, son of Abdul Malek of Court House Street, is accused in two cases under Narcotics Control Act and also suspect in two murders.

Zinnah's brother-in-law Abu Zafar Bhuiyan received the body of Zinnah on completion of inquest and autopsy last night.