Three bodies lie at the human traffickers' hideout in the hills of Teknaf.

BanglaPress Desk: Reports have emerged of three bodies lying at a human traffickers' hideout in the remote hills of Teknaf, Cox's Bazar. On Friday afternoon (November 6), police received information about the bodies in the hills near the Nayapara and Leda Rohingya camps in Hnila Union. However, due to the onset of night, law enforcement agencies were unable to reach the site to recover the bodies.

Cox's Bazar Superintendent of Police (SP) ANM Sajedur Rahman confirmed the incident, stating that they had been informed by locals about the three bodies at the traffickers' hideout. Efforts to recover the bodies are underway, though access to the location is currently not possible due to the darkness.

Earlier, on Thursday afternoon, a joint force conducted an operation at a hideout belonging to armed human traffickers in the same hilly area. An exchange of fire ensued between the two sides, during which a soldier, Md. Titas Sheikh (27), was killed by gunfire from the traffickers.

During the operation, 56 individuals were rescued from the hideout, and six members of the human trafficking ring were apprehended by the joint force. The rescued individuals were handed over to the Teknaf Model Police Station on Friday morning. Joint force operations in the hills have continued following the death of the soldier.

Meanwhile, news of the three bodies in the hills has sparked renewed concern and anxiety among local residents. They have demanded a comprehensive, large-scale operation across the hills to eliminate the hideouts of these armed criminals.

Teknaf Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) SM Anik Chowdhury stated that law enforcement agencies are actively working to apprehend the armed human traffickers hiding in the hills, emphasizing that no one will be allowed to escape the consequences of their crimes. The administration is also monitoring the situation regarding public protests (human chains).

He further expressed deep shock and grief over the death of the soldier, who was killed by gunfire from the armed human traffickers while on duty. He noted that the elimination of such criminal activities requires the collective cooperation of both law enforcement agencies and the local population.