Three bodies found at human trafficking hideout in Teknaf hills

Three bodies have reportedly been found at a hideout used by human traffickers in the remote hills of Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar. Law enforcement agencies could not reach the site to recover the bodies on Friday night due to darkness.

Cox’s Bazar Superintendent of Police ANM Sajedur Rahman confirmed that police received information from local residents about the three bodies at the hideout near Nayapara and Leda Rohingya camps in Hnila Union.

He said efforts were underway to recover the bodies, but security personnel had been unable to reach the location after nightfall.

On Thursday afternoon, a joint force launched an operation at an armed human trafficking gang’s hideout in the same hills. A gunfight broke out during the operation, in which Army soldier Mohammad Titas Sheikh, 27, was killed after being shot by the traffickers.

During the operation, 56 people were rescued and six suspected members of the trafficking gang were detained. The rescued individuals were handed over to Teknaf Model Police Station on Friday morning.

The joint operation has continued since the soldier’s death.

News of the three bodies has caused fresh concern among local residents, who have called for a wider operation to dismantle armed criminal groups operating in the hills.

Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer SM Anik Chowdhury said law enforcement agencies were working to arrest the armed traffickers and that no one involved in criminal activities would be spared.

He added that the administration was also monitoring the situation and stressed the need for cooperation between law enforcement agencies and local residents to eliminate such crimes.

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