Pirates collect toll thru' tokens in Bay

The fishermen of coastal areas of Kuakata, Gangamoti, Khajura, Alipur and Mohipur in Patuakhali, Patharghata and Parerhat in Barguna and some parts of Pirojpur, Khulna and Bagerhat districts are being compelled to take tokens in exchange of the big amount of money, according to fishermen in Kuakata area.

The pirates allegedly led by Jalal are set to collect Tk 3 crore from over 10,000 fishing boats till the month of May next year, according to the fishermen.

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They are not allowing any fishing boat to ply in the Bay if the fishermen fail to show tokens containing pictures of Royal Bengal Tiger and the symbolic name of the gang, 'Laban Chora.' They allegedly looted fish, fuel and other goods from 'defaulting' boats.

Five fishermen of a fishing trawler owned by Md Farid of Gangamoti area in Noakhali district informed Patuakhali Sadar police recently that the pirates looted fish worth about Tk one lakh from their trawler in the month of December as they failed to show token to them. The fishermen are Shahed, 30, Elias, 19, Johar, 21 Abu Taher, 20, and Rafiq, 22.

However, Kuakata police expressed their ignorance about the incident.