Two 'pirates' arrested with weapons in Sundarbans
Satkhira Correspondent
Police have arrested two 'pirates' named Nazir Gazi (49) and Didarul Islam (38) in Shyamnagar, Satkhira.
They were arrested from the coastal Jatindranagar and Mirgang areas of the upazila on Monday night. Based on the information given by the two arrested pirates, the police recovered a single-barrel gun from the boat they were using. Shyamnagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Humayun Kabir Molya confirmed the matter on Tuesday morning.
UP Chairman Abul Kashem Morol said that the two pirates were caught by local fishermen while returning home after a long period of banditry in the Sundarbans. At one stage, the fishermen identified the two bandits as active members of the Jonab Force and informed the police station. Meanwhile, the other three pirates managed to escape.
Earlier, around 8 pm on Monday, the pirates, along with a few other accomplices, were dispersed after being chased by locals while they were coming from the Sundarbans. The arrested are Nazir Ali Gazi (49) of Kadamtala village in Munshiganj union of Shyamnagar upazila and Didarul Islam (38), son of Shafiqul Islam of Chakla village in Ashashuni upazila.
Locals including Abu Hamza, Siddique Hossain and Akbar Ali said that around 8:30 pm on Monday, five to seven unknown people went to Jatindranagar Bazar on the banks of the Sundarbans. At that time, they were talking about a microbus or a rented motorcycle to go to a specific destination. At one point, when they were asked for their names and identities and the reason for coming to the Sundarbans area out of suspicion, they tried to escape. At that time, people present at Jatindranagar Bazar chased Didarul Islam and caught him and informed the police. Later, Shyamnagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Humayun Kabir reached the spot and arrested Nazir Ali and, based on the information given by him, recovered a single-barrel gun and a dagger from the fishing boat used by the gang.
Meanwhile, locals said that the Jonab force is not very active in the Sundarbans now.
Rather, Nazir Ali, his brother Nabab Ali, son Abdur Rahim and Asadul Islam from the Atiupar area of Munshiganj and some others are involved in banditry in the Sundarbans in the name of Jonab Ali Gang. Immediately after Nazir Ali was arrested on Monday night, his son Abdur Rahim and brother Nabab Ali fled the scene.
According to the statement of the arrested Nazir Ali, he was responsible for transporting the members of the Jonab Ali Bahini, the terror group of the Sundarbans, to the Sundarbans and taking them down to them. On Monday, he was responsible for transporting two members of the Jonab Force to Jatindranagar market under a contract of 10,000 taka. He claims that in addition to going to the Sundarbans to fish with the permission of the forest department, they also work on transporting known pirates. He also claims that the two pirates who went up left the recovered weapons in his boat.
Didarul Islam said that he was a worker of Nazir Ali and worked as a hostage taker and ransom collector for fishermen who went to the Sundarbans. He also said that he brought the two pirates who were brought to the locality from the Puterdune area of the Sundarbans. However, when asked about the various equipment including mobile power banks, Didarul Islam remained unanswered.
Meanwhile, regarding the arrest of the two people along with the recovery of weapons, Shyamnagar Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Humayun Kabir Molya said, based on the information provided by Nazir, a single-barrel gun was recovered hidden under the cork sheet on the boat.
After the arrest, both were taken to Shyamnagar Police Station. Initial information has been received that they used to enter the Sundarbans disguised as fishermen. Detailed information including the names and identities of the forces will be provided after the interrogation.
