Youth shot dead by 'human traffickers'

A youth was shot dead allegedly by human traffickers at Maheshkhali upazila early yesterday.

The dead is Lutu Mia, 22, of Sonadia Purbo Para in the upazila.

Locals and police sources said a trawler with some 40 people was anchored in Bay at Sonadia Purbo Para and was taking more people in from nearby villages to go to Malaysia illegally.

On information, a group of locals went there and tried to stop the trawler. Seeing them, the traffickers started to open fire, leaving Lutu critically injured, added the sources.

The traffickers and the fortune seekers fled.

The youth was rushed to Maheshkhali Upazila Health Complex where doctors declared him dead, said Mohammad Alamgir, officer-in-charge of Maheshkhali Police Station.

Later, police seized three trawlers from Hamidardiachar and detained five persons for their alleged involvement with the incident.

The arrestees are Md Rashed, 25, Nurul Islam, 15, Md Yousuf, 55, Sonamia, 48 and Delwar Hossain, 15.

No case was filed till 12:30am.