Eight students of Rajshahi University (RU) were allegedly held at gunpoint, assaulted and robbed while visiting the Garo hills in Jhenaigati Upazila of Sherpur on Friday morning.
The incident took place around 9am at a hill near the Gazni Abokash tourist centre, reports Bangla Tribune.
The students said a group of armed men, carrying a pistol and locally made sharp weapons, held them captive and tied them up before beating them and snatching their mobile phones, wallets and cash.
Rimon Rayhan, a student of the university's Department of Social Work, said 73 students had travelled from Rajshahi University to visit the tourist centre and split into several groups to explore the surrounding hills.
An eight-member group was attacked after climbing a nearby hill, he said. The attackers fled with their belongings, after which the victims returned to the tourist centre and reunited with their companions with help from locals.
Gazni tourist centre caretaker Clemen Raksam said visitors had been warned against venturing into remote hills and forest areas. He contacted police after learning about the robbery and visited the scene.
Jhenaigati Police Station Officer-in-Charge SM Nur Mohammad said police launched an immediate search operation but the suspects had fled into the remote hills.
Police personnel remain deployed at the tourist centre, he said, adding that further legal action would be taken if the victims filed a formal complaint.
Sherpur Deputy Commissioner Farida Yasmin said the incident occurred outside the designated tourist area despite warnings from locals. She said she had instructed the upazila nirbahi officer and the police to take necessary action.
