A gunfight broke out between joint forces and a group of robbers and kidnappers at their hideout in the hills of Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar. During the operation, a significant cache of local and foreign firearms, ammunition, narcotics, and a kidnapped individual were recovered from the scene.
The information was disclosed at a press conference on Sunday afternoon by Lieutenant Commander Salahuddin Rashid Tanvir, In-charge of the Bangladesh Coast Guard Station in Teknaf.
The rescued individual, Md. Sohel (20), is the son of Jahangir Alam from Noya Pollan Para in Teknaf Municipality.
Lieutenant Commander Salahuddin Rashid Tanvir said that around midnight on Saturday, law enforcement agencies received intelligence that a group of miscreants was staying with a large quantity of weapons in a hilly area adjacent to Jadimura in Hnila Union of Teknaf Upazila. Later, a joint team of the Coast Guard and police conducted an operation there. As the team reached the spot, the criminals, sensing their presence, opened indiscriminate fire targeting the law enforcement members. In self-defense, the law enforcers retaliated. During the gunfight, the criminals fled into the deep hills under the cover of darkness.
Subsequently, a search was conducted at the hideout, from where one G-3 rifle, two foreign pistols, three locally-made guns, 3,100 rounds of rifle ammunition, 14 rounds of pistol ammunition, one kilogram of crystal meth (ICE), and four liters of local liquor were recovered. Additionally, an individual held hostage by the criminal group was rescued.
The seized weapons have been handed over to Teknaf Police Station, and preparations for filing a case are underway, according to the Coast Guard Station official.
According to Cox’s Bazar district police and information from victims, a total of 257 abduction incidents have occurred in various areas of Teknaf over the past 18 months.
