Auto-rickshaw driver abducted by armed group in Teknaf

An 18-year-old auto-rickshaw driver named Papel Chakma has been abducted by an armed hill group from the Horykhola Chakma Para area of Whykhong in Teknaf, Cox's Bazar. 

According to Mohammad Abul Hashem, a member of Ward No 4 of the Whykong Union Parishad, the incident occurred around 7:30am today (18 July). The assailants abducted Papel from a location known as "Sonali Bank point" on the Whykong–Baharchhara road and took him deep into the nearby hills.

Papel Chakma is the son of Chandramoni Chakma and a resident of Horykhola Chakma Para in Whykong Union.

Eyewitness accounts suggest that Papel had left home early that morning with his auto-rickshaw, heading towards Shamlapur CNG station in Baharchhara to join the vehicle queue. As he reached the Sonali Bank slope area, a group of armed men blocked the road, forced him out of the vehicle at gunpoint, and led him into the dense forest.

Shuvo Ranjan Saha, officer-in-charge of the Baharchhara Investigation Center, confirmed the abduction, stating, "We have received information about the incident from the victim's family. However, no official complaint has been filed yet. Nevertheless, police are conducting operations in different areas to rescue the victim."

According to Cox's Bazar district police and records from victims' families, a total of 255 abduction cases have been reported in Teknaf over the past 18 months.