Two forest robbers held with arms, ammo

Members of Rapid Action Battalion (Rab) and coastguards in a joint drive early yesterday arrested two forest robbers from Karamjal area of the Sundarbans.

The law enforcers also recovered four firearms, 76 bullets, some life jackets, and 60 litres of diesel from their possession.

The arrestees are Sumon Hawladar, 24, son of Ishak Hawladar and Robiul Hosain, son of Sikandar Hosain of Digraj village in Mongla upazila.

Receiving information that a gang of forest robbers was staying in Karamjal area of the mangrove forest, a joint team of Rab-6 and coastguard conducted a drive in the area and arrested the duo at around 6:00am. The rest of the gang members managed to flee.

The members of the joint force recovered a shotgun, an SMG, a locally made gun and an airgun from the robbers.

The arrestees were later handed over to Dakope Police Station, said Lt Commander Alauddin Nayan, staff officer (operation) of Coastguard West Zone at Mongla.