Bangladeshi pirates kill 3 fishermen
Five members of a gang of Bangladeshi pirates who allegedly attacked three trawlers and killed three fishermen and injured 10 were caught by other fishermen on board and handed over to the police at Kulpi police station in South 24 Parganas district here on Saturday.
“Five persons assumed to be Bangladeshis so far were detained and we are interrogating them,” Superintendent of Police of South 24 Parganas, L M Meena said. When asked if they were pirates then why were they not arrested so far, Meena said: “We are trying to find out whether they are Bangladeshi fishermen or pirates. Once their identity is established we will take action according to the situation.”
The incident happened on Saturday morning when eight pirates came on a motorised boat and attacked three trawlers—Ma Basanti I, Ma Basanti II and Ma Tara—and killed three fishermen of Ma Basanti identified as Sripon Das, his father Dulal Das and Monomaran Das and injured 10 others from same trawler.
The pirates even boarded the Ma Basanti I and started hoarding money and utensils of the trawlers.
In the meantime, the Ma Basanti II reached the spot and the fishermen of the trawler putting up a strong resistance caught hold of all the eight pirates but three jumped into the sea, swam and tried to board the Ma Tara, the third trawler which was behind but they were chased by the fishermen on board.
Finally, the trio took the motorised boat they came with and escaped to Bangladesh waters. “Of the 10 injured, two have been sent to Kolkata Chittaranjan Medical College and Hospital of which the condition of one is serious and the other eight have been admitted to Daimond Harbour Sub-Divisional Hospital,” Meena added.
Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting C S Jatua and West Bengal Sunderbans Development Minister Shyamal Mondal were at the scene.
