95 named in three cases over soldier’s killing in Teknaf trafficking raid

Police have filed three cases naming 95 people over the killing of a Bangladesh Army soldier during a raid on an armed human trafficking gang in the remote hills of Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar.

Six suspects have been arrested, while investigators have also listed between 52 and 59 unidentified people in the murder, human trafficking and firearms cases.

Soldier Md Titas Sheikh was shot in the left shoulder on November 5 when suspected traffickers opened fire on a joint security team attempting to rescue around 120 Rohingya and Bangladeshi nationals allegedly held hostage in Rangikhali, Hnila union.

He later died at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Ramu.

Teknaf Model Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md Saiful Islam confirmed that three cases had been filed over the incident and that the six detainees had been sent to a Cox’s Bazar court.

Three cases, 95 named suspects

Bangladesh Army Warrant Officer Minazul Islam filed the murder case at Teknaf Police Station on November 8, naming 27 suspects and another 16 to 17 unidentified people.

The case was registered as number 34/696.

Sub-Inspector Saikat Majumder of Teknaf Model Police Station filed the two other cases.

The human trafficking case names 41 people and lists another 20 to 25 unidentified suspects. The firearms case names 27 people, alongside 16 to 17 unidentified individuals.

The figures represent 95 named entries across the three cases, although police have not clarified whether some suspects appear in more than one case.

Police said the joint forces detained six people during the operation and recovered two pistols, four rounds of ammunition and three locally made sharp weapons.

During a follow-up operation on Saturday, security personnel also recovered six rounds of ammunition, spent bullet casings, national identity cards and driving licences from a suspected trafficking hideout.

Rescue mission turns deadly

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), intelligence indicated that a gang of 15 to 16 armed traffickers was holding approximately 120 people captive in the remote hills of Rangikhali.

A joint team from the Bangladesh Army's 10th Infantry Division, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and local police launched a rescue operation around 5pm on November 5.

The traffickers allegedly opened fire after detecting the approaching security personnel.

An exchange of gunfire followed.

Titas was struck in the left shoulder and suffered severe blood loss. He was initially taken to a nearby hospital before being transferred to CMH Ramu, where doctors declared him dead.

Police have not disclosed how many of the alleged captives were rescued or whether any remain missing.

Six suspects produced in court

OC Saiful Islam said the soldier was killed during the operation against the suspected trafficking hideout.

"Three separate cases have been filed by the army and police over the incident, including murder, human trafficking and firearms offences," he told Daily Waadaa.

He confirmed that the six detained suspects had been sent to a Cox’s Bazar court after legal formalities.

The identities of the six detainees and the other named suspects have not been disclosed in the information provided by police.

Authorities have also not confirmed whether the gunman responsible for Titas's death has been identified.

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