Two days after being abducted in Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, farmer Md Rafiq, 32, has returned to his family. His family reported that he returned from the hilly area of Bainya in Baharchhara union under Teknaf upazila at around 3:30pm on Friday.
However, conflicting accounts have emerged from the family and the police regarding whether a ransom was paid for his release.
The family claims he was brought back after paying a ransom of Tk2 lakh. On the other hand, police said he was rescued without ransom following an operation.
Rafiq is the son of Momtaz Ahmad, a resident of Bainyapara area in Ward 4 of Baharchhara union.
The abducted farmer’s younger brother and Chhatra Dal leader Abdullah Kaisar said that following the abduction, gang members contacted them by mobile phone and demanded a ransom of Tk5 lakh through bKash.
He added that his brother returned after Tk2 lakh was paid in ransom following negotiations with the abductors.
According to family members and local residents, Rafiq was abducted at around 8pm on 20 October whilst guarding the betel nut orchard behind his house.
Hearing dogs barking in the orchard, he came out of the house, whereupon armed men lying in wait surrounded him.
Taking him hostage at gunpoint, they led him towards the hills. At the time, the abductors fired several blank rounds, sparking panic across the surrounding area.
Mohammad Said, in-charge of Baharchhara Police Investigation Centre, said: “Abducted farmer Rafiq has returned from the clutches of the abductors. Police later went to the spot and rescued him. There are marks of physical torture on various parts of his body.”
“He has been admitted to Teknaf Hospital. Important information has been obtained from the rescued farmer to identify those involved in the incident,” he added.
No one has been detained in connection with the incident so far. Law enforcement authorities said operations are underway to identify and arrest those involved.
Local residents claimed that over 300 people have been abducted from various areas of Teknaf, including Baharchhara, over the past few years. Although most of them were released in exchange for ransom, there are allegations that several were killed.
Residents have long voiced deep concern over recurring incidents of abduction and extortion of ransom, organising demonstrations and placing various demands at different times.
In continuation of this, the home minister recently announced in the National Parliament that two army camps would be established in the hilly areas of Baharchhara and Hnila unions of Teknaf.
