Two gangs abduct 105 fishermen
Loot trawlers, demand Tk 1 lakh ransom per victim
Rapid Action Battalion and coastguard arrest Golam Rasul, member of criminal gang Gama Bahini, and seize arms, bullets and mobiles from his possession during a joint drive in the Sundarbans yesterday.Photo: STAR
Armed robbers kidnapped at least 105 fishermen for ransom in 48 hours till Friday afternoon, from Harbaria and Gangrail areas adjacent to Sundarbans, near the Bay of Bengal. None of the kidnapped fishermen could be rescued till 3pm yesterday, said Md. Abul Hossain, general secretary of Sharankhola Fishermen's Association. The first incident of kidnapping at gunpoint took place on Thursday at Harbaria of the Bay of Bengal as the gang belonging to notorious Al Amin Bahini and Jihad Bahini kidnapped 55 fishermen for ransom of Tk one lakh per victim. The armed members of the two gangs attacked fishermen, beat them mercilessly and looted all fishes and their personal belongings including money from 39 fishing trawlers. Again on Friday, the same notorious gangs kidnapped 50 fishermen demanding same amount of ransom per head in Gangrail area of the Bay of Bengal. They also took away money, fishes and personal belongings from the fishing trawlers. The two gangs also threatened to kill all kidnapped fishermen in case of failure to pay ransom by Monday, said Md. Abul Hossain. He alleged that because of indifference of civil administration and law enforcing agencies, rampant robberies and kidnapping of fishermen are on in the sea, rivers and forests. As a result, the country is facing an adverse impact on fish resources and supply. Coastguard authorities of Mongla West Zone could not be contacted over phone for their comments despite several attempts yesterday. However, OC Azizul Islam of Sharankhola PS admitted to sudden rise in such incidents of robberies and kidnapping of fishermen for ransom. Joint forces of coastguards, Rab and police recovered 15 firearms and arrested four robbers during special operation early this month, the OC said. According to a report from Bagerhat, Rab members on Friday evening arrested an armed robber and rescued three kidnapped fishermen from a trawler at Boleshwar in Patharghata upazila of the district. The elite force also recovered a gun, 163 bullets and six mobile sets from the trawler, reports our correspondent. The arrestee was identified as Golam Rasul, 30, a member of notorious 'Gama Bahini' of the Sundarbans and son of Ramzan Ali Fakir of Sonailtola village in Bagerhat.
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