Extortion by Forest Guard in Sundarbans alleged

At least two such incidents took place in the last few days.

Two fishermen-Litton and Bashir Majhi- who returned to Alipur port in Kuakata said their fishing trawlers--FB Fatema, FB Mafiz and FB Selim Hawker-- were drifted to Katka area in the Sundarbons coast in rough weather on Friday.

Some pirates accompanied by forest guards came, beat them there and realised toll.

In another incident on august 4, forest guards seized fishing trawlers FB Sweeter and FB Machhranga in Charpai range in the Sundarbans and detained 16 fishermen. They demanded Tk 50,000 ransom from the trawler owners over mobile phone.

The fishermen were freed after payment of ransom, but coast guards and pirates took away the fishes they had netted, they alleged.

The incidents created a panic among fishermen in the coast.