A gang of 10 outlaws abducted cattle trader Akhter Hossain, 50, of Mongolbaria on the outskirts of the town on Saturday night and demanded Tk 1 lakh within 48 hours for his release, police and family sources said.

Police recovered his body from Chartalbaria near the Padma river yesterday.

Another gang of outlaws abducted headmaster of Goswami Durgapur High School in Sadar upazila Abul Kashem in the early hours of yesterday.

The gang that kidnapped the trader was allegedly led by Ramzan Ali of West Majampur in the town. A mob later nabbed Ramzan, beat him up and handed him over to Sadar Police Station.

The trader's family said they sought police help soon after the abduction but police advised them to look for the victim on their own.

In the other incident, a gang of 15 outlaws in the guise of police stormed into the house of Abul Kashem at village Nahordia and kidnapped him.

The headmaster is also a leader of the local 'terrorist protection committee'.

The gang fled firing blank shots to create panic among local people.

The abductors later sent to Kashem's family a written message with a cell phone number, demanding Tk 10 lakh within a short time. Otherwise, they would kill him, the message warned.

Meanwhile, the students, teachers and local people held a protest rally and demanded immediate rescue of the teacher.

Other schools in the area also remained closed yesterday to press the demand.

A case was filed with Sadar Police Station.