Two Bandarban abductees escape

Two of the three people abducted on Monday evening by armed criminals from Bandarban’s Ruma upazila escaped last night, said police.

The escapees are Nayan Das, 28, and Mohammad Mizan, 30, said Ruma police Station Officer-in-Charge Nazrul Islam.

He also said whereabouts of the third abductee, Basu Karmakar, still remains unknown.

“A group of ‘Mogh Bahini’ kidnapped them at gunpoint from Minjiri Mukh area on Monday evening when they were returning to Ruma Sadar upazila from remote Munnam Para of the upazila,” the OC said.

Later, the criminals demanded Tk 10 lakh ransom from their family members over phone, the OC added.

The three abductees are drivers of locally modified passenger vehicles, locally known as “Chander Gari”.

On August 5, some criminals sent a letter to Jeep Owners’ Association of Ruma, demanding Tk 30 lakh, said Khalilur Rahman, secretary of the association.

Meanwhile, on yesterday morning, a rally was held in Bandarban town, demanding immediate arrest of those responsible for disturbing peace and harmony in Bandarban by killing and abducting hill people.

Alleging police obstruction in organising the rally at the directive of ruling party men, the speakers also demanded arrest of the ruling party politicians who have been aiding and abetting the criminals.

Among others, Kazi Mujibur Rahman, former secretary of Awami League’s Bandarban unit; freedom fighter MA Wahhab and col (retd) Mohammad Ayub spoke at the rally.

Six people were killed and another was kidnapped in Bandarban in the last three months. Most family members of the victims claimed involvement of “Mogh Bahini” in the crimes.