Kidnappers, allegedly of Rohingya origin, today shot one of three hostages after their ransom was not paid.

The criminals had been holding three farmers for ransom in Teknaf upazila of Cox's Bazar. Earlier, they had demanded Tk 3 lakh for the farmers, but have now increased that to Tk 20 lakh.

The deceased farmer was identified as Akhtar Ullah, 24, son of Moulvi Abul Kasim of Hnila union under Teknaf upazila, reports our Cox's Bazar correspondent quoting police and locals.

Police are continuing drives in the area to rescue the abducted farmers and arrest the kidnappers, said Sub-Inspector Moshiur Rahman, in-charge of Howaikyang Police Outpost.

Meanwhile, locals today staged a demonstration in Minabazar area on Cox's Bazar-Teknaf road this noon protesting the killing of Akhtar Ullah and demanding authority's prompt measures to nab the culprits.

The criminals shot Akhtar Ullah on his head early this morning and left his body with a note near Putibunia Rohingya Camp No 22 in Howaikyang union in Teknaf around 5:00am.

On information, police and detectives visited the spot and recovered the body and sent it for autopsy to Cox's Bazar District Sadar Hospital morgue.

The kidnappers then threatened the family members of two other abducted farmers over phone that they would kill them within the next two days if Tk 20 lakh is not paid as ransom.

The kidnappings took place on Wednesday night at Minabazar area of Howaikyang union in the upazila, when six men were working in a paddy field.

The kidnappers later released three of them -- Abul Hashem, a farmer, and his two sons Reazuddin and Jamaluddin -- in exchange for rice and other food.

However, the kidnappers held three others -- Shahed, Akhtar Ullah and Md Idris -- and demanded Tk 3 lakh ransom for them.

Locals allege that the criminals are Rohingyas led by Abdul Hakim, who had abducted many others in the area previously for ransom, and killed those whose families could not meet the demands.