A fisherman was injured as two rival pirate groups locked in a fierce gunfight at Bacha Rajakhali point of the river Mamundo in the Sundarbans on Sunday.
Injured Nuruzzaman Barkandaz, 30, son of Ahmad Barkandaz of Kalinchi village in Shyamnagar upazila, was admitted to Khulna 250-bed Hospital in critical condition.
Quoting local people police said nine fishermen including Nuruzzaman and Nur Ali of Kaikhali village went to the Sundarbans in three trawlers to catch fish taking pass from the Kaikhali forest office on July 10 morning.
They were besieged by Galkata Masud Bahini as soon as they reached Bacha Rajakhali area.
The pirates demanded Tk 10,000 per boat from the fishermen. In the meantime, the rival pirate gang belonging to Pakhi Bahini, numbering about 30 opened fire on the members of Masud Bahini.
Masud Bahini retaliated and the gunfight continued for 40 minutes since 10:45 am.
Nuruzzaman received bullet injuries while the members of Masud Bahini fled into deep forest.
Later pirates belonging to Pakhi Bahini reached there and caught the fishermen with three trawlers.
Meanwhile, three other fishermen, who went to the Sundarbans last week, have been abducted by pirates from the Kateshwar and Bayarsingh canals.
The three are now held hostage in the deep forest for a ransom of Tk 20,000 each, police quoting the victims' relatives said.
Seven days have been set as the deadline for payment of the ransom failing which the fishermen will face 'dire consequences', fishermen who fled the scene said.
The abducted fishermen are Ruhul Kabir, 35, son of Daud Ali and Sabud Ali Sardar, 28, son of Abdur Rahim Sardar of Patakhali village and Mozammel Sardar, 25 son of Mandar Sardar of Jyotindra Nagar village in Shyamnagar upazila.
Source : The Daily Star
