5 CU students, auto driver missing after Khagrachhari abduction

Five Chittagong University students and a battery-run auto-rickshaw driver, abducted in Khagrachhari on Wednesday, remain missing as a joint force led by the Bangladesh Army continues rescue operations.

Khagrachhari Superintendent of Police Mohammad Arefin Jewel said a regional armed group operating in the hills might be involved in the abduction.

"We are using mobile tracking technology to locate them and working on all possible leads to rescue the abducted individuals," he said.

The six victims, including Rishan Chakma, a student of International Relations at Chittagong University and a leader of the CU unit of the Pahari Chhatra Parishad (PCP), were abducted at gunpoint from the Giriful area of Khagrachhari Sadar early Wednesday morning, according to Nipun Tripura, president of the PCP, a student wing of the Parbatya Chattogram Jana Samhati Samiti (PCJSS) backed by Santu Larma.

He said the students had travelled to Baghaichhari in Rangamati to attend the traditional Baisabi festival and were returning to Chittagong University via Khagrachhari.

As they failed to secure bus tickets on Tuesday, they stayed overnight at the home of a relative in the Kukichhara area of Khagrachhari Sadar upazila.

"On Wednesday morning, they were on their way back to Chittagong in a battery-run auto-rickshaw when they were forcibly picked up from the vehicle in the Giriful area. The driver was also abducted," he said.

He alleged that members of the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) [Prasit group] were responsible for the abduction.

However, Angya Marma, Khagrachhari district organiser of the UPDF (Prasit group), denied the allegation, reports UNB.

“We have no involvement in the abduction. This kind of vindictive politics is not our way. We always advocate for an end to fratricidal conflicts. Some quarters are trying to implicate us through conspiracies,” he said.