Judge of the Noakhali-4 Cognisance Court Uzma Shukrana recorded the confessional statement of Zakir Hossain, said office-in-charge of Kabirhat Police Station Mohammad Hasan.

Meanwhile, police arrested three more people, including victim’s stepbrother-in-law Abdur Rob Hossain Manna, 28, over the incident. The two other arrestees are Md Selim, 30, and Harun-or-Rashid, 22.

Quoting Zakir, the OC said Manna was the mastermind of the gang-rape. He led the offenders in the incident.

Zakir said Manna, Selim and Harun raped the woman and he stood in guard during the incident.   

Meanwhile, locals formed a human chain at Nabogram Bazar in the afternoon demanding exemplary punishment of the offenders.

Zakir along with his three accomplices broke into the victim’s house in the early hours of Saturday taking advantage of her husband's absence. They held the victim and her three children hostage and raped her in turns.

They also looted Tk 60,000 and some gold ornaments from her house, the victim said.

Soon after the incident, the victim, 36, filed a case with Kabirhat Police Station. Later, police arrested Zakir, 40, son of Enamul Haque of the village.

Locals said the victim has been living at her residence along with her two daughters and a son as her husband is now in jail in a political case.