The seven arrested Jatiyatabadi Chhatra Dal leaders collected at least 11 firearms to carry out sabotage ahead of the national elections, the Detective Branch of Police claimed yesterday.

"We have recovered four of the firearms. We will recover the others and bring those involved under the law," DB Chief Harun Or Rashid told reporters at his office.

Harun told media that the arrested Chhatra Dal leaders contacted arms dealers through Facebook and the DB have evidence of the conversations.

They also had plan to take control of AF Rahman Hall of Dhaka University, said the DB official.

Asked, he rejected the allegation that the arrests were politically motivated.

Harun said that they will find their godfathers by taking the JCD leaders in remand and take legal actions.

DB on August 20 said that they arrested 18 leaders and activists of BNP and its associate bodies, including six JCD leaders who went missing on August 18, for planning to carry out violence and anti-government activities.

The six JCD leaders were shown arrested with three firearms.

Later, on August 24, the DB arrested Abul Hasan Chowdhury, vice-president of JCD central committee, from the capital's Hatirpool. He was shown arrest a pistol, two bullets, and three crude bombs.

BNP secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, however, earlier said that the DB's statements are completely fabricated.