Noakhali: At least 14 persons were killed and 50 injured in a fierce fighting between two rival gangs of pirates on a remote island under offshore Hatia Upazila, local sources said.

The clash that ensued over the control of Charkalam in Jahajmara Union was on till the filing of the report.

According to locals, the isolated Charkalam islet, located at the bank of Meghna River, has been administrated by the Munsi group of pirates for long. The members of Ibrahim and Munshi groups locked horns in a clash on Tuesday midnight.

SI Abul Kashem of Hatia thana said on information, they rushed to the isolated landmass, “but no dead body was found”.

“The bodies were either washed away in the river or concealed by the pirates,” he added.

Meanwhile, police force was sent but they could not move ahead fearing sniper attack by the pirates, said police super Harun-ur-Rashid of Noakhali.

2030 hrs, 20 Mar 2010
EC/MRH/SMS/MUA/