Terror in Teknaf hills: 27 abducted in 2 days
The latest kidnappings – from stopping CNG-run auto-rickshaws to abducting a man from his grocery shop – between last night and this morning have spread panic through the area
Highlights:
- Nine more abducted in 24 hours
- Ransom set at Tk1 lakh per person
- Abductors threaten 'bodies will be sent back' if law enforcement involved
- Police seek permission for joint operations in hills
- 153 people kidnapped in past year
- Locals say they are living in fear
The picturesque path to Teknaf, lined by towering hills, and nestled by the sea, is a mark of tranquillity.
The calm, however, is one ruptured. There's fear in the air.
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Nine more people have been abducted in the hills of Teknaf upazila in Cox's Bazar, including two auto-rickshaw drivers, in the last 24 hours.
The abduction comes immediately after 18 people, including Forest Department officials, were abducted from the upazila's Jadimora area in Hnila union yesterday morning (30 December).
The latest kidnappings – from stopping CNG-run auto-rickshaws to abducting a man from his grocery shop – between last night and this morning (31 December) have spread panic through the area.
Eight of the victims were waylaid on their way from Hoikyang to Shamlapur on two auto-rickshaws this morning, while one was kidnapped from the Bora Dail area of Baharchhara Union last night.
Two auto-rickshaws were stopped around 8am and all eight, including the drivers, were abducted, said Shamlapur CNG autorickshaw lineman Md Abdur Rahim.
Police from the Baharchhara Investigation Centre reached the spot after receiving the information.
However, the names and addresses of the abductees could not be known immediately.
Inspector Shobhan Kumar Shaha, the in-charge of the Baharchhara Investigation Centre, said an operation is being conducted in this regard.
Two CNGs have been recovered, he added.
'Shots fired, kidnapping in the open'
Jasim Uddin, son of Nazim Uddin Master, a resident of the Bara Dail area of Baharchhara Union in Teknaf, was abducted at around 11pm yesterday, said Nurul Islam, UP member of Ward-8.
He said armed terrorists fired 15-20 rounds of blank shots, abducted Jasim from his grocery shop near South Bara Dail Government Primary School and took him into the hills.
No contact has been made by the terrorists since the kidnapping.
Police are also conducting a drive to rescue Jasim, said Inspector Shobhan Kumar Shah.
Tk1 lakh ransom being demanded per person
Meanwhile, families of the 18 people who were abducted yesterday have begun paying ransoms for the victims' freedom.
Abdur Rashid, the range officer of the Teknaf Forest Department, said he has learned that the kidnappers are calling the victims' families demanding ransom.
Juhur Alam, the father of kidnapped forest worker Saiful Islam, said the abductors had demanded Tk18 lakh in total for the release of the victims.
"When I said that I did not have the money, they beat up my son and called my wife. They also said if we involve law enforcement, then bodies of our children will be sent to us," he said.
Khatija Begum, mother of the abducted Ansar Ullah and Ayat Ullah, said kidnappers had reached out to her and demanded Tk1 lakh for each.
"They said they were ready to send me only bodies if I did not pay the ransom," she said.
'Locals living in fear'
Mohammad Ali, UP member of Ward-9 of Hnila Union Parishad, claimed most of the abductions were done by Rohingya terrorists.
He said the abductees were subjected to various types of torture if the ransom demands were not met.
"The people are living in fear," he said.
Contacted, Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Sheikh Ehsan Uddin said locals were assisting the law enforcement agencies in rescuing the abductees.
Teknaf Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Muhammad Gias Uddin said law enforcement agencies are working to rescue the abductees.
On Monday morning, Home Ministry Adviser (retd) Lt Gen Mohammad Jahangir Alam Chowdhury went to Teknaf to inspect the border. The abduction of the 18 people took place during his stay in Teknaf.
Cox's Bazar's Superintendent of Police Muhammad Rahmat Ullah said the recent abductions took place deep in the hills.
He said the police do not have the equipment to conduct a solo operation there and have sought the cooperation of the district administration to conduct a joint operation.
"We hope that we will be able to conduct a successful operation very soon," he said.
The district's Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Salahuddin said that law enforcement agencies would be provided with the utmost cooperation to rescue the abductees.
According to Cox's Bazar District Police and families of victims, 153 people have been abducted from different areas of Teknaf in the past year. Of them, 94 were local residents, 59 Rohingyas.
At least 78 of the abducted victims were released after ransoms were paid, according to the victims' families.
According to Teknaf Police Station, 14 kidnapping cases were registered with Teknaf police between 18 August and 31 December this year.
The number of accused in these cases is at least 65. So far, 30 people have been arrested.
