Abductors kill one hostage

Criminals abducted three farmers in Teknaf and killed one of them after his family members failed to pay ransom for his release, police said yesterday.

The abductors earlier were demanding Tk 3 lakh in ransom, but are now asking for Tk 20 lakh to set the two other farmers free, law enforcers said.

The deceased farmer was identified as Akhtar Ullah, 24, son of Moulvi Abul Kasim of the upazila's Hnila union.

Police were raiding different areas to rescue the two farmers and arrest the criminals, said Sub-Inspector Moshiur Rahman, in-charge of Howaikyang Police Outpost.

After the news of Akhtar's killing spread on Friday noon, locals demonstrated on Cox's Bazar-Teknaf road in Minabazar area, demanding prompt action from the authorities to nab the culprits.

The criminals shot Akhtar on the head earlier in the morning and left his body with a note near Putibunia Rohingya Camp-22 in Howaikyang union around 5:00am.

On information, policemen along with detectives recovered the body and sent it to Cox's Bazar District Sadar Hospital morgue for an autopsy.

The kidnappers then called the family members of the two other farmers over phone and threatened to kill the abductees if Tk 20 lakh was not paid in seven days, said locals.

The abduction took place on Wednesday night in Minabazar area of Howaikyang union when six men were working in a paddy field.

The criminals later released three of them -- Abul Hashem, a farmer, and his two sons Reazuddin and Jamaluddin -- in exchange for rice and other food, said the locals.

They also alleged that the abductors were Rohingyas led by Abdul Hakim, who previously had abducted many others in the area for ransom, and killed those whose families could not pay ransom.