Teknaf, July 6 (V7N) – A fierce gun battle took place between members of a joint security team and armed criminals in a remote hilly area of Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar. The operation led to the rescue of a kidnapped individual and the recovery of a cache of illegal firearms, ammunition, and narcotics.
 
According to Lieutenant Commander Salahuddin Rashid Tanvir, officer-in-charge of the Teknaf Coast Guard Station, law enforcement agencies received intelligence late Saturday night about a group of armed criminals hiding with a large stockpile of weapons in the hilly region adjacent to Jadimura under Hnila Union. Acting on the tip-off, a joint team from the Coast Guard and local police launched a raid in the early hours of Sunday.
 
Upon approaching the area, the criminals reportedly opened indiscriminate fire at the security personnel, triggering a brief but intense exchange of gunfire. As the skirmish continued, the assailants fled into the dense forest under the cover of darkness. The joint forces then searched the hideout and discovered a significant cache of weapons and contraband items.
 
The recovered items included:
 
One G-3 rifle, Two foreign-made pistols, Three locally-manufactured firearms, 3,100 rounds of rifle ammunition, Fourteen rounds of pistol ammunition, One kilogram of crystal methamphetamine (commonly known as ‘Ice’) and Four liters of locally-produced liquor.
 
Additionally, one kidnapped individual was rescued during the operation. The victim was identified as Md. Sohel, 20, son of Jahangir Alam of Natun Pallan Para, Teknaf Municipality. He had reportedly been held hostage by the criminal group.
 
Lieutenant Commander Tanvir confirmed that the seized arms and narcotics have been handed over to the Teknaf Police Station, and preparations for filing a case are currently underway.
 
Data from Cox’s Bazar District Police and victim families reveal that over the past 18 months, 257 people have been abducted from various parts of Teknaf. Many of these kidnappings are believed to be linked to organized crime groups operating in the remote hilly and border regions.
 
Law enforcement authorities have reiterated their commitment to eliminating such criminal networks, particularly those involved in human trafficking, armed robbery, and drug smuggling, which continue to destabilize the region and pose a serious threat to public safety.
 
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