Demanding extortion to cast nets in sea,, 4 fishermen injured in Kalapara
Kalapara (Patuakhali) Correspondent
An allegation has been made that four fishermen were injured after a fishing trawler was attacked in Kalapara, Patuakhali, for not paying the demanded Tk 1 lakh to cast their nets into the sea. The incident took place on Thursday afternoon in the Bay of Bengal adjacent to Dhulasar Union of the upazila.
The injured fishermen, Md. Jahangir (27), Md. Monir (23), Omar Faruk (45) and Mustafa (42), have been admitted to Kalapara Hospital. They all hail from different villages of Dhulasar and Dalbuganj unions.
The injured fishermen said that for the past few days, Shah Alam had been demanding a bribe of Tk 1 lakh from fisherman Omar Farooq whenever they went to cast their nets in the sea. Omar Farooq did not pay the bribe and cast his trawler along with 4 fishermen in the morning into the Bay of Bengal. Later, Shah Alam's son Ilyas went to them with a trawler and demanded the demanded Tk 1 lakh. When Ilyas did not pay at that time, he took their nets from the sea. Later, Shah Alam, his sons Ilyas and Riaz along with 20 to 25 people went to the sea and ambushed Omar Farooq and the 4 fishermen in his trawler. When they were seriously injured, the locals rescued them and brought them to Kalapara Hospital.
In this regard, Shah Alam Chowkidar said that at one point, there was a scuffle with his son over the issue of throwing the net. But there was no incident of extortion. The extortion incident is completely fabricated.
Mahipur Police Station OC Shamim Hawlader said that legal action will be taken if a written complaint is received regarding the incident.
