Bagerhat Correspondent :
S.M.Solaiman, District and Session Judge of Bagerhat, in a judgment delivered on Tuesday, convicted 13 persons and sentenced 6 of them to be hanged till their death while the judge sentenced the rest 7 to suffer rigorous imprisonment for life and to pay a fine of Tk.10 thousand each in default to suffer another rigorous imprisonment for one year more on the charge of killing 2 members of the coastguard and one member of the RAB in Sundarban forest Two accused persons were, however, acquitted of the charge for lack of sufficient evidences.
The judgment was delivered in absentia of all the convicted persons while the acquitted persons were present in the court at that time.
Those who were awarded death penalty are Rafikul Shaikh, Kuddus Shaikh, Idris Shaikh, Babul Shaikh, Alkas Fakir and Ilyias Shaikh of village Khalkulia under Morrelganj Upazila in the district and those who were awarded imprison for life are Riazul Shaikh, Akram Shaikh, Alam Shaikh, Badsha Shaikh, Jamal Shaikh and Kamal Shaikh of village Gabgachia under Morrelganj Upazila in the district and Aslam Shaikh of village Hogladanga under Batiaghata Upazila in Khulna district.
The prosecution story, in short, is that on December 01 in the year 2006 jungle pirates were taking preparations for committing dacoity in a tributary canal of the river Pshiur in Sundarban forest at mid night. Being informed of the matter the joint force of the Coast Guards and RAB raided the spot at the same night at about 1.30 am. As soon as they joint force reached there the jungle pirates opened gun fire on them and in reply to that the joint force also opened gun fire and consequently, a fierce gun battle took place between the joint force and the jungle pirates, At one stage when the members of the joint force tried to arrest some jungle pirates they (jungle pirates) clasped 2 Coast Guards and one RAB in their arms and jumped into the river.
As a result, Md. Kanchan (48), P C of RAB-6 and coastguard members M. H. Kabir and M. A. Islam were missing since then.. On the following day the dead bodies of them were recovered from the river Pashur. In this connection Md. Mohsin Ali, the then DAD of RAB-6 lodged a case with the locals PS against unknown persons as the plaintiff.
After the incident accused Badsha and Kamal were arrested by the police and they made a confession to the police. Police of Mongla PS investigated into the matter and submitted a charge sheet to the court against 15 persons on May 8 in the year 2007.
