No trace of 14 villagers

Six separate army patrols have so far combed the suspected jungles. Reports say the abduction toll reached 22 in the past four days, in two separate incidents by gangs of indigenous armed insurgents that took place between 23 to 26 March.

The United Peoples' Democratic Front (UPDF), in an anti-peace accord issued here on Sunday evening, blamed the armed cadres belonging to the pro-peace accord Jono Sanghaty Samity (JSS) for the abduction. But the JSS in a press release yesterday denied the accusation.

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However, sources said armed terrorists abducted the 14 villagers of Rangimara, Sakkapara, Morachengri, Sapmara and Borpolepara on Saturday night. Later, in a message, the captors demanded Tk.10 lakh as ransom for their release.

Meanwhile, eight people who were kidnapped from the same upazila on March 23, including a primary school teacher, were set free on Saturday.

Police said 15 armed men stopped two Chander Gari (human carriers) in Bogachhari and took the eight people to unknown places. A couple of days later, the captors set them free at a nearby jungle, they confirmed.