Pirates loot 16 trawlers, abduct 40 in two days

15 November 2009, 17:00 PM

Star National Desk

Pirates looted at least 16 trawlers and abducted 40 fishermen for ransom yesterday and on Saturday. Two fishermen were abducted yesterday by pirates from Haribhanga canal in the Sundarbans, reports our Satkhira correspondent. The kidnapped two are: Abdur Rahman Gazi, 50, son of Eman Ali Gazi of village Kadamtala and Yasin Ali, 27, son of Ali Ashraf of village Sora in Shyamnagar upazila. Holding them hostage in the deep forest, the pirates have demanded Tk 40,000 for their release. They have set a three-day deadline for payment of the ransom failing which the fishermen will face 'dire consequences', victim's relatives told police. On Octobar 31, the pirates abducted fishermen Tapan Malo and Devi Malo of Burigoalini village of the same upazila from Haribhanga canal and demanded ransom. On Saturday evening, pirates looted 10 fishing trawlers in the Meghna, injured five fishermen and abducted 10 fishermen for ransom, reports our Barisal correspondent. On the same day, pirates looted six trawlers in the Bay and abducted 28 fishermen to realise money from them, said an agency report. The pirates in the Meghna looted fish, nets, trawler engine and cash from two trawlers named FB Sayed, FB Gias and demanded Tk 1 lakh for release of the fishermen. The five of the 10 fishermen are Giasuddin Majhi, Akter Hossain, Nantoo, Shahin and Farid. Names of the rest five could not be known till filing of report yesterday morning. They all hail from different villages under Sakuchia union of Monpura upazila of Bhola district. On the other hand, the injured fishermen were identified as Sayed Majhi, 45, Nurnobi, 25, Lokman, 22, Abul Kashem, 20, and Rakib, 12. They are being treated at Charfashion Upazila Health Complex in Bhola. Fisherman Sayed Majhi, who escaped attack and reached Charfashion yesterday, told this correspondent that a gang of pirates swooped on them while they were fishing in Charpial area under Sakuchia union of the Megna River on Saturday evening. Abul Bashar, acting officer-in-charge (OC) of Manpura police station said over cell phone that they were trying to rescue the fishermen and track down the pirates. On Saturday early morning, pirates looted six fishing trawlers in the Bay and abducted 28 fishermen, according to UNB from Bagerhat. Fishermen who returned from the Bay at noon said, a group of pirates numbering 15/16, swooped on six trawlers while they were fishing in Durbalarchar and Narikelbaria areas of the Bay at about 2:00am. The gang looted fish, nets and other valuables worth about Tk 10 lakh from the trawlers. As the fishermen tried to resist the pirates, they beat up five of the fishermen mercilessly, leaving them seriously injured. “The band also abducted 28 fishermen from the six trawlers at gunpoint for ransom,” said a returnee.