The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Chittagong

Police in a pre-dawn swoop rescued a Bangladeshi expatriate academic living in Japan from the captivity of kidnappers in the city yesterday and captured three abductors.

The expatriate academic, Prof M Imam Uddin Bhuiyan, was rescued from hilly Hajighona area near Feroj Shah Colony in the city Monday morning, within 12 hours of his abduction.

Police said a team of Khulshi thana police carried out the raid and arrested three kidnappers-Tofajjal Hossain (38), Mohammad Salauddin alias Sallu (24), and Banu Begum (42)-- of Hajighona area under Khulshi thana.

Prof Imam Uddin Bhuiya , a researcher and coordinator of United Nations University in Japan, was kidnapped by a group of people from Garibullah Shah Housing Society area on his way to friend's residence on Sunday night.

Giving reaction after his rescue Prof Imam Uddin said "I was surrounded by a group of unknown people inside a thatched house when I regained my sense around midnight".

The kidnappers demanded Taka 10 lakh as ransom to set him free. Prof Imam Uddin was beaten mercilessly during his captivity after he declined to pay the ransom.

He then made a call to his friend Prof Younus Meah and requested him to get him free from Hajighona area by giving the ransom.

Prof Younus informed the matter to police and that followed a rescue operation by a team of plainclothes police of Khulshi thana to the area.

At first the members of the police pretended themselves to be relatives of the victim.

Police caught red-handed Sallu- one of the kidnappers, soon after he received the money from plainclothes police.

Taking the advantage of the situation, Prof Imam Uddin managed to escape from the captivity and joined the police team at a nearby place.

After getting information from Prof Imam Uddin , police raided the house and arrested rest of the kidnappers.

A case has been filed with Khulshi police in this connection.