15 \\\'forest bandits\\\' killed in 3-day in Sundarbans

At least 15 suspected forest robbers were killed in mass beating and ‘gunfight’ with police and RAB at separate places in the Sundarbans during the last three days till Wednesday as extortion and kidnapping marked a sharp rise despite regular drives against the criminals. At least 13 suspected robbers were killed in separate incidents of mass beating and ‘shootout’ with police at Derutigram in Paikgachha and Hardakaliboghi in between Paikgachha and Koira Upazilas of Bagerhat district early Sunday. Two ‘forest robbers’ were killed in a gunfight with Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) personnel at Mrigomari of the East Sundarbans in Mongla Upazila on Wednesday morning. With the killing of the 15 bandits, at least 77 forest robbers were killed in ‘gunfights’ with law enforcers in the last four years, RAB sources said. Local fishermen and law enforcers said, over 25 robbers and pirates gangs unleashed a reign of terror in the Bay of Bengal and the Sundarbans kidnapping innocent and poor fishermen, woodcutters for ransoms, and hijacking fish and fishing trawlers. RAB-8 commander Lt Col Faridul Alam said RAB members have been patrolling the Sundarbans regularly to check the activities of the forest robbers, according to UNB.