13 firearms seized in Sundarbans, 3 held
Three arrested illegal arms traders with the firearms and ammunition seized from Sundarbans at coastguard Mongla west zone office in Mongla on Friday.Photo: STAR
Members of the Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and coastguards in a joint drive arrested three illegal arms traders in Khulna city and Batiaghata upazila of the district early Friday. Following their confessional statements, the law enforcers recovered 13 firearms and 26 bullets from Sundarbans the same day. The arrestees are Milon Mondol, 34, son of Ombarish Mondol of Amtala village in Dakope upazila, Rafiqul Sheikh, 50, son of Jamiruddin Sheikh of Gaoghara village, and Saidul Howlader, 35, son of Shafiuddin Howlader of Katianagla village in Batiaghata upazila of Khulna district. Being tipped off, a team of Rab-6 and coastguards headed by Lt Commander Noor-e-Alam and coastguards Mongla West Zone Staff Officer Lt Commander M Hasanuzzaman arrested Saidul and Milon Mondol in Zero Point area of Khulna city at around 4:00am. Later, the Rab men and coastguards arrested Rafiqul Islam at Gaoghara village in Batiaghata upazila. After interrogation of the arrestees, the law enforcers recovered a US made revolver, five one-shooter guns, seven light guns and 26 bullets from Jongra area of the mangrove forest under Dakope upazila. The arms and ammunition meant for sale to the pirates of Sundarbans were found hidden under ground on the bank of Jongra Canal, said Lt Commander Hasanuzzaman. A case was filed with Dakope Police Station at 10:030pm on Friday under Section 19-A and 19-F of the Arms Act. Sub-Inspector (SI) Parimol Das has been made investigation officer (IO).of the case According to police, the three arrestees are active operatives of outlawed New Biplobi Communist Party (NBCP) now linked with some notorious gangs of pirates and an organised gang of inter-district illegal arms traders. Lt Commander Hasanuzzaman quoted the statements of the arrestees as saying that sale and purchase of illegal arms between pirates and extremists are being done with the connivance of a section of forest officials and guards. When asked, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO east) Mihir Kumar flatly denied the allegation of involvement of any forest official or guard in illegal arms trade. On November 24 this year, coastguards arrested two pirates on the Passur River adjacent to Nandabala forest camp under east wing of Sundarbans Forest Division. They are Shamim of outlawed New Biplobi Communist Party (NBCP) and Shukur of notorious Gama Bahini of Sundarbans. Coastguards also recovered one SBL gun and 25 bullets from their possession.
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