Two forest robbers held in Sundarbans

Forest officials in a drive arrested two forest robbers from Nandabala canal in Shela River under Chandpai Range of the Sundarbans early yesterday on charge of abducting four honey collectors (Bawali) on Friday night.
The arrestees are Mizan Sheikh, 28, son of Nurul Islam of Signal Tower area, and Aynal Haque, 30, son of Moktar Jamaddar of Buddhamari village in Mongla upazila of the district.
KN Kabir Hossain, an official of Chandpai Forest Range, said a gang of 7/8 robbers picked up four honey collectors while they were collecting reeds in the area around 11:00pm and took them to the deep forest.
The identities of the abductees, however, could not be known.
Being informed, a team of the forest department conducted drives in the Shela River and its adjacent places and detained the duo along with a boat and two sharp weapons from Nandabala canal early yesterday.
Assistant Conservator of Forest Belayet Hossain said the arrestees confessed to their involvement with the abduction during primary interrogation.
The arrestees were handed over to the Coastguards yesterday afternoon, added Belayet.