Forest guards foil robbery attempt on Sundarbans fishermen
Robbers flee into dense forest after forest guards fire blank shots; officials dismiss reports of tourist boat attack.
Forest guards foiled an attempted robbery on a fishing boat in the Sundarbans after armed robbers allegedly followed a group of fishermen and tried to take them hostage in the Katka area last night (3 October).
According to the Forest Department, the fishermen had entered the Sundarbans with valid permits to catch fish. When they reached Kaderer Khal near Katka, a group of robbers began following their boat.
Realising they were in danger, one of the fishermen contacted the Forest Department's Katka office for help.
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Forest guards quickly reached the area and fired blank shots, prompting the robbers to retreat into the dense forest.
Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) of the Sharanhola Range under the Sundarbans East Forest Division Shariful Islam confirmed the incident today (4 October).
"When the robbers started following the fishermen, they realised the danger and alerted our Katka office. Immediate intervention by the forest guards rescued the fishermen from serious danger," he said.
He said the robbers fled following the swift intervention of the forest personnel.
No one was detained in connection with the incident, he added.
The ACF also dismissed reports that a tourist boat had come under attack in the Sundarbans.
"No tourist boat was targeted or robbed. Visitors and the public are requested not to be misled by such rumours," he said.
