Eight Rajshahi University students held hostage and robbed on hill at Gajni resort in Sherpur
Eight students of Rajshahi University (RU) have allegedly been beaten and robbed after being held hostage at gunpoint on a hill at the Gajni Abakash tourist centre in the Garo hills of Jhenaigati upazila in Sherpur. The incident happened at around 9am on Friday (13 November). The miscreants snatched the students’ mobile phones, wallets and cash.
The victim students said a group of 77 people — 70 students, three teachers, two staff and two employees in charge of food — came from RU to the Gajni resort on Friday morning. The students later split into several groups and went to visit the hills around the tourist centre.
When a group of eight students climbed a hill at the resort, a group of miscreants carrying a pistol and local sharp weapons blocked their way. Showing the weapons, they held the students hostage, tied them up and beat them. They then snatched the mobile phones, wallets and cash the students had with them and fled.
Rimon Raihan, a student of RU’s Social Work department, said they came to the resort on Friday morning with 70 students, three teachers, two staff and two employees in charge of food from RU. They later split into groups and went to visit the nearby hills. When their group of eight climbed a hill, several miscreants with a pistol and local sharp weapons held them hostage and tied them up. They then took their mobile phones, wallets and money and fled. The students later returned to the resort and, with the help of local people, rejoined the others.
Clemens Rakhsam, caretaker of the Gajni Abakash tourist centre, said everyone in the picnic party had been forbidden from going towards the remote hills and jungle. They went there anyway. After the robbery, the thana was informed. Police have visited the spot.
Jhenaigati Thana Officer-in-Charge (OC) S M Nur Mohammad said that on receiving news of the robbery, police immediately raided various places in the hills. However, the miscreants could not be caught as they had moved into the remote hills. Police members are stationed at the resort. Necessary legal action will be taken if the robbed students file a complaint.
Sherpur Deputy Commissioner (DC) Farida Yasmin said that after learning of the matter and making inquiries, she found the incident happened on a hill outside the resort. Local people had forbidden the students from going there. The Jhenaigati Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) and the Thana Officer-in-Charge (OC) have been instructed to take necessary action over the incident.
