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Seven Sundarbans bandits surrender to RAB
[Dhaka Tribune] Seven members of a gang of bandidos who operate in the Sundarbans surrendered to RAB yesterday, expressing a wish to give their life a fresh start.They are Md Mostafa Sheikh alias Kader Master, son of Abdul Latif Sheikh of Mithakhali area in Bagerhat’s Mongla upazila, Md Sultan Khan, son of Ismail Khan of the same area, Sohag Akon, son of Yusuf Akon of Boro Katakhali area in Rampal, Md Fazlu Sheikh, son of Ahad Ali Sheikh of the same area, Solaiyam Sheikh, son of Safrul Sheikh of Sreefaltala village, Shahin Sheikh, son of Md Motleb Sheikh of Khulna’s Dacope area, and Sumon Sarder, son of Nurul Islam Sarder of Satkhira’s Tala upazila. The gang named Master Bahini is led by Md Mostafa Sheikh, who is said to be the most notorious bandit at the Sundarbans. The seven also surrendered 51 firearms of different types and some 5,000 rounds of ammunition at Charaputia area in Chandpai range of the Sundarbans (east) around 6:30am. They were taken to RAB 8 custody after they surrendered. The seven were to officially surrender to Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and RAB Director General Benazir Ahmed at noon but the process was postponed due to adverse weather conditions. Nizamul Haque Mollah, superintendent of police of Bagerhat, said the bandidos did not officially surrender as the home minister could not make it to the programme due to bad weather. ’We want to start a new life’ After his surrender, the leader of the gang, Mostafa, said a union parishad chairman of Rampal area made him a bandit and he started working as a member of the gang named Raju Bahini. He said he formed a gang of 10-15 members on his own after the leader of Raju Bahini, Raju, fled to neighbouring India following a raid conducted by the joint forces. "As RAB continued to crack down on bandidos, we decided that we would surrender. Except the seven, other members of the gang fled after they learned that we would surrender," Mostafa said. "We wish to return to a normal life after the legal procedure ends." RAB sources said a RAB intelligence team connected with the members of Master Bahini after they were informed that the bandidos were willing to surrender. According to RAB, Master Bahini terrorised local fishermen and beekeepers in the Sundarbans and the west coast. They would extort fishermen and were also involved in a range of crimes, such as abduction and demanding ransom. The surrender of the bandidos made local fishermen happy. They said they would be able to catch fish without fear if other bandidos also decided to surrender like the seven. Md Jahangir Alam, deputy commissioner of Bagerhat, praised the decision of the bandidos to surrender in order to start a new and normal life. "This is undoubtedly a good move for them, and a good news for locals as well. It will be great if other forest robbers follow in the footsteps of the seven Master Bahini members," he said. The government official said all necessary measures would be taken for helping the seven bandidos to return to a normal life. Posted by: Fred 2016-05-30 |
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