Prompted by a police crackdown on the pirates, angry villagers have started to go after the outlaws with a vengeance in Noakhali’s Hatia.
Police arrested four alleged pirates along with firearms while taking preparation to commit robbery in Wapda Sluice Gate area in Ramgati upazila on Friday night.
The arrested were identified as Jahirul Islam, son of Joynal Abedin, Sohel, son of Raijul Haque of Chargazaria village, Yusuf, son of Ahmed Ullah of Poragachha village, and Ahmed Hossain, son of Bashir Ahmed of Sabujgram village in the upazila.
Locals said a gang of four pirates on an engine-boat reached Alexander Sluice Gate area in the upazila and were preparing to commit robbery in the fishing trawlers in the Meghna River at about 10.00 pm.
Suspecting their movement, the fishermen caught them.
Later locals gave them a good thrashing and then handed over them to police.
Police recovered a gun, a pipe gun and some sharp weapons from their possession.
Moktar Alam, officer-in-charge of Ramgati Police Station, said a case was filed under the Arms Act in this connection. -UNB, Laxmipur
