Three children were rescued after being tied up by ropes and tortured for five hours allegedly by a vegetable trader in Hajiganj upazila of Chandpur yesterday.

The victims are: Jidan, 12, and Siam, 11, of Enayetpur village in the upazila and Siam's cousin Suborna, 11, of Matoin village in Sadar upazila, reports our Chandpur correspondent.

According to witnesses and police, vegetable trader Mijan Mia tied the three children with ropes at his house for five hours from 3:00pm.

Victim Jidan said they went to a brick field to collect snails at Kongaish village in Hajiganj municipality area yesterday afternoon.

Bringing allegations of stealing potatoes from his field, Mijan took the kids to his house and tied them up to a haystack with ropes used for tying cattle.

"We didn't steal, but he kept us tied up for five hours," Siam said.

Mijan tortured them by keeping them tied up for five hours in the cold, alleged Moniruzzaman, a witness.

"I found two potatoes with them after searching. I lost three quarter of potatoes of my field. I have been hunting for the thieves and I will not let them go if I don't get any compensation," Mijan said when police went to rescue the children around 8:00pm.

"Police are yet to receive any complaint against Mijan. We will take necessary action if we get any written complaint," Shah Alam, officer-in-charge of Hajiganj Police Station, told our Chandpur correspondent.