Police on Friday told a court that Trinamul Congress block president Anarul Hossain was a “conspirator” in the killings of eight persons at Bogtui on Monday night.

Hossain, who was produced in the court of additional chief judicial magistrate in Rampurhat on Friday, was remanded in police custody for 14 days.

He was arrested soon after chief minister Mamata Banerjee had directed the police to round him up during her visit to the site of the massacre on Thursday.

“The police hold Anarul Hossain as a conspirator of the carnage and killings based on the statements of the victims’ family members. He was produced in the court of ACJM Souvik Dey, who ordered his 14 days’ police custody for the purpose of investigation,” said Surajit Sinha, the assistant public prosecutor of Rampurhat court.

The police had on Wednesday arrested 20 people — most of whom were relatives and followers of Bhadu Sheikh, who was killed on Monday night — and got their custody for 10 days.

A source said Section 120B (criminal conspiracy) had been added to the main case of carnage and killings by the police following the arrest of Hossain.

“Once the conspiracy is proved, the accused would be punished same as the murderers and that was why this section was added to the case that was drawn up on the basis of a suo motu complaint lodged by a sub-inspector of Rampurhat police station,” said a source.

The arrest of Anarul is significant in the case as this may throw open the political link to the carnage in Bogtui.

“The arrest of Hossain is just the tip of the iceberg as we all know that he would not have acted without the orders of his political masters in the district.... We want the CBI to interrogate Hossain and get the names of the people who were behind the incident,” said BJP spokesperson Shamik Bhattacharya.