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KHULNA: A total of 52 members of four pirate gangs, including their leaders, have surrendered to the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB-6) in the Sundarbans.
The information was disclosed in a press release issued by the RAB-6 headquarters in Khulna on Tuesday (September 1). The gang members surrendered to RAB-6 on August 31.
According to RAB-6, 16 members of the Boro Jahangir gang, 13 members of the Anarul gang, 15 members of the Afzal alias Dulabhai gang and eight members of the Aftab gang surrendered. The total number of people who turned themselves in was 52.
The RAB press release said thousands of people, including fishermen, bawalis and honey collectors, depend on the Sundarbans, the world’s largest mangrove forest, for their livelihoods. For years, pirates and forest-based criminal gangs had posed a serious threat to forest-dependent communities and local residents through abductions, ransom demands and other criminal activities.
A significant number of members of various pirate and forest-based criminal gangs had previously surrendered following continuous operations by law enforcement agencies and government rehabilitation initiatives. However, authorities recently received information about the activities of new criminal groups, as well as the involvement of some previously surrendered individuals in criminal activities again. Incidents of fishermen and forest workers being abducted and held for ransom also came to light.
Against this backdrop, RAB intensified intelligence surveillance and operations to ensure security in the Sundarbans. Alongside continued operations by RAB-6 and other law enforcement agencies, the difficult environment of the forest and the uncertainty associated with a life of crime reportedly encouraged members of several pirate gangs to abandon criminal activities and return to normal life.
As part of the process, 52 members of the four gangs surrendered to the authorities.
RAB-6 Commander Lieutenant Colonel Nistar Ahmed said, “Operations and surrender initiatives will continue to control piracy in the Sundarbans and ensure the safety of forest-dependent communities.”
