Coastguards open fire at fishermen as they try to take away seized nets
12 bullet-hit in Laxmipur
Coastguards shot at fishermen as they tried to resist seizure of current nets in Ludhua canal in Kamalnagar upazila on Monday, leaving 12 people bullet injured.
The injured, admitted to Laxmipur Sadar Hospital and Noakhali Hospital in critical conditions, are Mahfuzur Rahman, Maksud Alam, Amir Maal, Mostafa, Mahiuddin, Zakir Hossain, Rubel Ahmed, Mosleh Uddin, Alauddin, Nurul Islam, Nasir Ahmed and another unidentified fisherman.
Police, quoting witnesses, said a coastguard team, comprising 5/6 members, came to Ludhua Machh Ghat by a boat as part of their on-going drive against use of current net by fishermen in the afternoon.
They seized a huge quantity of current nets from fishing boats and fishermen's houses after conducting a search which angered the fishermen.
As the coastguards were leaving the area by boat with the current nets at noon, the fishermen of the area gathered on the bank of Ludhua, a tributary of Meghna. They attempted to snatch the seized nets, triggering a scuffle.
Heavily outnumbered, the coastguards fired at least 20 bullets at fishermen leaving a dozen wounded on the spot.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel.
Comments