Armed men abduct six farmers from Teknaf hills

Armed men have abducted six farmers from the hilly area of Whykong in Cox’s Bazar’s Teknaf Upazila.

The incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon in the hills adjacent to Kombonia Para and Minabazar, said Sub-Inspector (SI) Khokon Kanti Rudra, chief of the local police outpost.

The abductees have been identified as Mohammad Jamir, 30, Mohammad Munna, 25, Mohammad Alam, 30, Mohammad Rafiq, 35, Mohammad Mozahar, 50, and Mostaq Ahmed, 27 -- all residents of Jhimongkhali village in Whykong Union.

Shah Jalal, acting chairman of the Whykong Union council, said the farmers were taken at gunpoint while working in the fields near the hills.

“On Tuesday afternoon, armed hill bandits kidnapped six farmers while they were working in the area adjacent to the hills of Whykong,” he said.

He added that family members began searching for the men as soon as the incident came to light and informed the authorities, but no trace of them has yet been found.

Azahar Hossain, father of Mohammad Alam, said his son had gone to the fields as usual before being captured.

“My son went to work in the fields, as he does every day. Suddenly, hill bandits came and took everyone hostage,” he said.

“We are extremely worried.”

Rudra said police have been conducting raids in the surrounding hills since Tuesday night in an effort to rescue the abductees.