In Teknaf of Cox's Bazar, 10 people who were abducted from hilly areas have been rescued in the last two days. They were rescued at 12:30 pm on Wednesday raiding the Jahaspura hilly area of Teknaf in a long 6 and a half-hour operation. However, the police operation is still ongoing to catch the kidnappers. Officer-in-Charge (OC) Muhammad Osman Gani of Teknaf Model Police Station said that the location of the kidnapping gang was identified through the use of information technology. After that, 50 policemen from Teknaf police station, Hoikang and Baharchhara outposts simultaneously started an operation at Jahazpura Hill in Teknaf from 6 pm on Wednesday. RAB members also joined the operation.
“At one stage of the campaign the entire hill was surrounded. Then at around 12:30 in the night, the kidnapping gang escaped leaving the kidnapped 10 people in the hills. Later, they were rescued. Now they are being given first aid. And the operation is going on in the hilly areas to catch the kidnappers.”
Meanwhile, an audio recording has spread on social media saying that 10 kidnapped people have been released in exchange for ransom.
In this regard, Muhammad Osman Gani said, “We have rescued 10 abducted persons unharmed by raiding the hilly areas. The police are not aware of the ransom here. Family members of the abductees do not give any information. Even after multiple attempts, I am not giving a written complaint. As the relatives did not give information, the police faced obstacles in their work.”
“Now if their family gives money to someone, don't tell us (police). However, taking everything into account, the police operation is continuing to identify the kidnappers and arrest them. Besides, information will be collected from 10 rescued people.”
Those who were rescued at night have been admitted to Teknaf Upazila Health Complex for primary treatment, said the OC.
The incident took place in the western hilly area of Rohingya camp No. 12 and Putibuniya hilly area of Teknaf upazila around 2 pm on Wednesday. Among them, 6 people were abducted from Unchiprang area and 2 people from Putibunya area.
Relatives of the abductees and local representatives said that the miscreants have already demanded a ransom of 3 lakh taka to release the 6 abducted persons from the Unchiprang area of Huaikang. However, the ransom demand from the relatives of the two abducted persons in separate incidents from Putibunya area of Huaikung could not be confirmed.
On Wednesday night, Teknaf Hoikung Union Chairman Noor Ahmed Anwari and UP Member of Ward No. 5. Shahjalal confirmed these facts about the incident.
The abducted are -- Shakeel Mia (15), son of Ledu Mia, son of Ledu Miah of Hoikung Union, Teknaf, Junaid (13), son of Belal, Saiful (14), son of Nurul Amin, Farid (35), son of Shabar Ali, Sona Mia (24), son of Nazir Hochan. , son of Gura Puitya (32) of city Mulluk.
Apart from this, the other two abducted in a separate incident are Chayed Hossain alias Babul (33) son of Ali Akbar of Raikxyong North Para of Hoikyong Union and Fazal Quader (47) son of Kala Mia alias Lomba Kalu of Raikxyong South Para.
UP member Shahjalal said, in the morning, 6 residents of Unchiprang area of Huaikung Union went to the hilly area adjacent to the local Rohingya camp to herd and farm cows. Later, they did not return home even after noon.
At one stage after 2 pm, one person from the kidnap gang confirmed the kidnapping by calling the mobile number of one's father from an unknown location on 01897266888 and demanded a ransom of three lakh rupees. The abductees were being beaten and they screamed. The abductees have been threatened to be killed if they inform the police about this matter.
Meanwhile, on Wednesday morning, while riding cows in Putibuniya hilly area of Hoikang Union, two more people named Chayed Hossain and Fazal Quader were kidnapped, said local UP Chairman Noor Ahmad Anwari.
Regarding the relatives, he said that two more residents of his union are missing while riding cows in the morning. They did not return home even after 9 pm on Wednesday. It is believed that both of them have been abducted by miscreants. The police have been informed in this regard.
Shakil Mia's father, Ledu Mia, said that he was worried because he did not return till afternoon when he went to herd cows in the morning. Among them, a ransom of three lakh taka has been demanded from one of the numbers. Now they are scared.
Earlier on Tuesday (March 26) these two were abducted while fetching cows in the Hoikung Kombanya hilly area of Teknaf. They are Ali Ahmad (32) son of Amir Hossain of Ghona area of Hoyakung Roza in Teknaf and Noor Mohammad (17) son of Firuz of Kambania area.
Mohammad Hasan, UP member of Hoikang Union Parishad in Teknaf, said, "Two people have been abducted from the hilly area. Their families are being contacted and inquiries are being made.
Noor Ahmad Anwari, Chairman of Hoikang Union, said that the ransom was demanded by phone on Wednesday morning from the families of the 2 abducted persons. But the relatives of the abductees are not saying anything about how much money has been asked. It is believed that the relatives are secretly trying to bring them back with money without informing the police and public representatives due to threats.
In the last one year, 109 people have been abducted from different areas of Teknaf. 59 of them are local residents, the rest are Rohingya citizens. At least 51 of the kidnapped victims have been released on ransom, according to the families of the abductors. Among them, Chowad bin Abdullah, a madrasa student who was abducted from East Pankhali area of Hnila on March 9, could not be rescued even after 19 days passed. However, the police have arrested 5 members of the gang, including the driver of the autorickshaw used in the kidnapping and a woman member of the gang. 5 people are Rohingya.