Kidnappers hold 3 men in Cox’s Bazar, demand Tk 3 lakh

Kidnappers, allegedly of Rohingya origins, have been holding three farmers for a ransom of Tk 3 lakh in Teknaf upazila of Cox's Bazar.

Six police teams are currently conducting drives in the area to rescue the victims, said Sub-Inspector Moshiur Rahman, in-charge of Howaikyang Police Outpost.

Police will continue the drives until the abductees are rescued and the kidnappers are arrested, SI Moshiur said.

Locals allege that the criminals are Rohingyas led by Abdul Hakim, who had abducted many others in the area previously for ransom, and killed those whose families could not meet the demands.

The latest kidnappings took place on Wednesday night at Minabazar area of Howaikyang union in the upazila, when six men were working in a paddy field, said Shamsuddin, a resident of the area and general secretary of the union's ward Awami League unit.

The kidnappers swooped on the unsuspecting six and then took them deep inside the hilly area, he said, adding three of them -- Abul Hashem, a farmer, and his two sons Reazuddin and Jamaluddin -- were released later in exchange for rice and other food.

However, three others -- Shahed, Akhtarullah and Md Idris -- are still with the kidnappers, who have demanded Tk 3 lakh ransom for them, Shamshuddin said.

The kidnappers made the ransom demand to the family members of the three abducted men over phone after they snatched the mobile phone of one of them.   

They have threatened to kill the men if the ransom is not paid.

Locals said despite several drives conducted by law enforcers in the area, the kidnappers have so far managed to evade arrest.