Criminals on Friday abducted a schoolboy and demanded Tk 7 lakh, while two school students, feared to have been abducted, are missing for the last seven days.

Four abductors called Sajib Uddin, 15, son of Nasir Uddin and student of class nine at MN High School, out of his house in Poura Bazar in Kumarkhali and took him to an unknown place. They later demanded Tk 7 lakh over mobile phone for his release.

Sources said Sajib's family members are trying to buy his freedom instead of going to police, as the captors threatened them with his death.

Rakibur Rahman, 14, son of Ziban Sheikh, and Samsul Islam, 13, son of Yiakub Ali, of Kanchanpur in Kumarkhali, meanwhile, are missing since May 30.

The two schoolboys went to the town, 20 km off their village, but did not return home until yesterday.

Manju, an alleged cadre of an underground political party, on Friday asked Tk 20 lakh for the missing boys' rescue. Villagers later ransacked his house but could not hold him.

At least 24 people have been abducted in the last five months, triggering widespread terror in the district. Of them, three were killed, police rescued four, six are missing, and the rest bought their freedom.