Pirates loot 27 trawlers, abduct 34 for ransom

Ringleader's 10-pt condition for 'peace'

30 August 2009, 17:00 PM

Star National Desk

Pirates looted 27 trawlers in the Sundarbans and abducted 34 fishermen for ransom of Tk 20 lakh on Friday night. Meanwhile, ringleader of a most notorious pirates group in the Sundarbans has sent cell phone message to local newspapers and coastguard officials saying that said his gang would leave their criminal ways if the government meets their ten-point demand including general amnesty. Among the fishermen abducted on Friday are Alam, Hanif Shikder, Abdus Salam, Khalil Khan, Pannu, Jalil Howlader, Shadat Hossain, Al Amin, Monir Hossian, Mahabub Hossain -- all hailing from Patharghata upazila of Barguna district, reports our Barisal correspondent. They were catching fish in Narikelbaria area of the Sundarbans when armed pirates attacked them at about 12:30am on Friday and looted fish, nets, cash, engine and other valuables from 27 trawlers and beat them up, Golam Mostofa Chowdhury, president of the Patharghata Fish Warehouse Association, quoted fishermen Nabin Hossain of Gazimahamud village of Patharghata upazila as saying. Nabin Hossain and seven others were let return in an injured state to tell others of the pirates' demand. The pirates threatened to kill the abducted fishermen if Tk 20 lakh is not paid as ransom, Nabin Hossain told the local journalists. Earlier on August 18, pirates looted 22 trawlers and kidnapped 40 fishermen in Khochikhali area of the Sundarbans. Our staff correspondent reports from Khulna: Ringleader of a most notorious pirates group in the Sundarbans has said his gang members would leave their criminal ways if the government meets their ten-point demand. “My men will surrender all arms and ammunition and there would not be a single incident of piracy or abduction for ransom in the Bay of Bengal and the Sundarbans if our ten-point demand is met,” Raju Ahmed, leader of notorious Raju Bahini, said in a cell phone message sent to some local newspapers and coastguard officials. Fishermen in the sea and the forest will remain secure and be able to do their job without any hindrance if we can return to normal life with all our demands met by the government, reads the message that he sent several times since August 22. The ten-point demands include general amnesty pardoning all their crimes committed so far, withdrawal of all cases against them and no legal action after surrendering their arms and ammunition, employment opportunity and guarantee for their peaceful life and security to their family members. He also demanded that an agreement of general amnesty be signed by the president, the prime minister and the home minister. When contacted, the coastguard's West Zone Contingent Commander Md Yasin admitted to receiving cell phone message of notorious pirate Raju Ahmed regarding the demands.