Teknaf, Nov 08 (V7N) – Joint forces conducted a large-scale search in the remote hills of Teknaf on Saturday after reports emerged that three bodies were lying in the area, but no bodies were found despite searches covering several kilometres.

However, cooking utensils and other equipment believed to have been used by human trafficking gangs were recovered from their hideouts. More than 150 personnel took part in the operation. Meanwhile, 56 people rescued from an alleged human trafficking detention facility were handed over to their families.

The operation began at 7:30am on November 7 in the remote hills of Leda and Rangikhali in Hnila Union of Teknaf upazila. It was led by the Army's 10th Infantry Division, with personnel from the Army, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), SRB and police participating.

Mohammad Ali, acting chairman of Hnila Union Parishad, who accompanied the operation, said search teams combed the remote hills behind the Rangikhali and Leda Rohingya camps from the morning. Despite searching an area spanning several kilometres, they found no bodies. However, various cooking utensils and other equipment were recovered from hideouts allegedly used by human traffickers.

Earlier, on Thursday, November 5, joint forces rescued 56 people from a secret detention facility operated by suspected human traffickers in the same area and arrested six suspected members of the network. During the operation, an exchange of gunfire took place between joint forces and armed traffickers. Army soldier Mohammad Titas Sheikh, 27, was shot and killed.

Following military formalities, he was buried with state honours at the family cemetery in Laskardia village of Nagarkanda upazila, Faridpur, on Friday evening.

The 56 rescued people were handed over to their family members from Teknaf Model Police Station on Friday night. They included six Rohingya refugees and 50 Bangladeshi nationals.

After Thursday's operation, reports spread on Friday evening that three more bodies were lying in the remote hills near the Rangikhali and Leda Rohingya camps. Several media outlets also reported the claims.

Shahidul Islam, one of the rescued victims, said he had heard that several people were killed during an exchange of gunfire between two groups. He also claimed to have seen three bodies near the detention facility. However, he could not establish whether they belonged to members of the trafficking network or victims who had escaped from captivity.

Cox's Bazar Superintendent of Police ANM Sajedur Rahman said joint forces were continuing operations against human trafficking networks in Teknaf.

“Searches in the remote hills of Leda and Rangikhali have so far failed to locate any bodies. Intelligence surveillance has also been strengthened,” he said.

He added that joint operations would continue until the activities of human trafficking networks were completely eliminated.

Accounts from rescued victims have revealed disturbing details of deception, torture and hostage-taking at secret detention facilities in the hills.

Asaduzzaman, one of the victims, said he had been lured to Cox's Bazar with the promise of a job and later held captive at a secret hill hideout for eight consecutive days. He said he had twice attempted to escape but failed.

According to Asaduzzaman, more than 50 people were held at the facility and preparations were underway to traffic them by sea. Armed men guarded the hideout, while the captives' mobile phones and personal belongings were confiscated, preventing them from contacting anyone outside.

Meanwhile, no case has yet been formally registered at Teknaf Model Police Station over the killing of Army soldier Titas Sheikh. However, the process of filing a case is underway, Officer-in-Charge Mohammad Saiful Islam said.

He said six people had been detained in the joint operation against the trafficking network and were being questioned. Their identities were being withheld for the sake of the investigation and because the operation was still ongoing, he added.

The OC also said three human trafficking cases had been filed at Teknaf Model Police Station in October, naming 17 people as accused. Of them, 16 had been arrested.

According to local sources and accounts from victims, the remote hills of Teknaf have long been used by human trafficking networks as secret hideouts and detention facilities. People are allegedly lured there with promises of jobs or opportunities to travel abroad, then held hostage for ransom or prepared for trafficking by sea.

Following the death of the Army soldier during Thursday's operation and reports of three additional bodies, joint forces intensified searches across the hills. However, the failure to locate the bodies on Saturday has fuelled speculation among local residents about whether they were moved elsewhere.

Some residents suspect that members of the trafficking network may have removed the bodies during the night before the joint forces launched their search. This claim has not been independently verified.

END/MSR/SMA/