Dacoits abducted at least 12 fishermen and a trawler from the Fuspuserchar area under the Sarankhola Range of the East Sundarbans late on Tuesday night. The victims were reportedly taken to an undisclosed location deep within the forest.
According to a local fish trader from Rajapur and a mahajan (trawler owner), the fishermen were fishing near the sea estuary at Fuspuserchar when a group of 15 to 16 armed dacoits, wearing specialised clothing, launched a raid on their vessels.
The abducted individuals, all residents of the Ruhita area in Patharghata, have been identified as Yasin, 25, Masum, 58, Salim, 25, Zakir, 28, Hossain, 30, Touhid, 28, Yasin, 20, Mahbub, 24, Hanif, 35, Hridoy, 26, Ibrahim, 40, and Sumon, 27.
There are further reports that several other fishermen may also be held in the bandits’ .
Golam Mostafa Chowdhury, president of the Barguna District Fishing Trawler Owners’ Association, confirmed receiving reports that 12 fishermen from the Ruhita and Nidrasakhina areas were being held captive inside the forest.
Forester Md Mijanur Rahman, the acting officer of Shelar Char patrol post in the Sarankhola Range, stated on Wednesday afternoon that forest guards initiated an operation on Tuesday night to apprehend the bandits. However, the abducted fishermen have not yet been traced.
Meanwhile, Sarankhola Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Shaminul Haque noted that while he had heard reports of 17 fishermen being abducted, no formal complaint has been lodged.
He assured that legal action would be taken once a formal allegation is received.
