Ethnic leader, 14 more abducted

A leader of United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) and 14 villagers were abducted from two areas of Rangamati hill district on Sunday.
The incidents took place in Kaukhali and Naniarchar upazilas.

In Naniarchar, 20-25 members of an armed gang swooped on Putikhali and abducted 14 people at gunpoint in the morning.

They fled into the forest along with the abducted villagers, witnesses said.

Some miscreants abducted Bakul Chakma, administrative unit director of UPDF, from Kaukhali upazila of Rangamati in the afternoon.

An armed group of 8-10 people swooped on Bakul Chakma's house and picked him up.

UPDF blamed its faction - Democratic UPDF- and reformist group of Parbatya Chattagram Jana SamhatiSamiti (JSS) for the abduction.

However, both the organisations denied the allegation.

The police super of the district, Md Alamgir Kabir, said a team of police with the help of army was conducting drives at different places to rescue the victims.

The police suspect that they were abducted over the Naniarchar Upazila Parishad by-polls scheduled to be held on 25 July.