Armed pirates swooped on two fishing trawlers and looted valuables, throwing 18 fishermen into the Meghna in Monpura area on Thursday night. Narrating the incident, the fishermen, who came back yesterday, said a group of pirates swooped on their trawlers, beat them up severely and threw them into the river before looting their valuables. They also took away their trawlers. The fishermen, however, swam ashore. The fishermen were asked to contact the pirates at a place in Monpura area with Tk 50,000 in toll to get back their trawlers and nets.