5 abducted Bhaluka youths traceless for five days

Five youths, who were picked up by unknown people, posing themselves as Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) personnel, from Bhaluka upazila on early Thursday, still remain traceless.

Family members and locals said 30 to 35 men came in three or four vehicles, including two microbuses,at Kashor village and picked up Hadidul Islam, 30, and his younger brother Johirul Islam, 26.

The same group later entered adjacent Jamirdia Dubaliapara village and picked up Hadidul's brothers-in-law-Ismail Hossain, 32, Ibrahim Hossain, 25, and their servant Amir Hossain, 22.

Fazlul Haque, father of Hadidul and Johirul, said the abductors identified themselves as Rab men. "But they did not give any reason why my sons were being taken away and what was their destination," he said.

"My sons and relatives are not involved with any political party or criminal activities, and there is no enmity with the local people," he added.

Officer-in-Charge Md Mamun-or-Rashid of Bhaluka Police Station said there was no criminal record against the youths.

"We are conducting drives to rescue the victims although none had lodged any written complaints in this connection till filing of this report as of 6:00pm yesterday," the OC added.

Contacted, ASP Jobraj Hossain, operation officer of Rab-14 in Mymensingh, said the elite force members did not conducted such drive on that day.