3 kidnapped workers rescued in Teknaf, 3 others still missing

Six workers were abducted at gunpoint by unknown individuals in Teknaf's Baharchhara union today (30 November), with police rescuing three while efforts are underway to locate the others.

"The incident occurred at around 8:30am in the union's slope area, on the Whaikhyang-Shamlapur route in Teknaf," said Mohammad Dastagir Hossain, in-charge inspector of the upazila's Baharchhara Police Investigation Centre.

"Three of them were rescued during a police raid while the others still remain missing. The identities of the abductees have not been confirmed yet," he added.

The inspector further said it is uncertain whether the unknown individuals are still holding the remaining victims hostage or have released them. Police are continuing their rescue operation.

"We are working to find out who carried out the abduction and for what reason," he said.

Quoting locals, Dastagir said, "In the morning, a truck carrying 7-8 workers was travelling from Whaikhyang to Shamlapur. When the truck reached Baharchhara, an unidentified group of people stopped the vehicle at gunpoint and abducted six workers."

Upon receiving information from locals, the police immediately launched an operation. At one stage of the operation, the kidnappers released three people, but the whereabouts of the other three have not been found, he said.

According to Cox's Bazar District Police and the victims' families, 143 people have been kidnapped from various areas of Teknaf in the last 1.2 years. Among them, 86 are locals and 56 are Rohingyas.

At least 69 of the victims have been released after paying a ransom.

According to Teknaf Police Station, 13 kidnapping cases have been filed with the police station from 18 August to November. At least 60 people are accused in these cases. So far, 25 people have been arrested.