They handed over two locally made single-barrel guns, one locally made pipe gun, 40 rounds of live cartridges, and one walkie-talkie to the Coast Guard, the release said.

The Coast Guard said the three had long been involved in robbery in the Sundarbans as members of the Boro Jahangir Bahini and had been holding fishermen and bawalis (woodcutters) hostage for ransom.

The latest surrender came amid two ongoing Coast Guard-led special drives, “Operation Restore Peace in Sundarbans” and “Operation Mangrove Shield”, launched to eliminate active forest robber gangs and ensure the safety of fishermen, bawalis, and forest-dependent communities in the coastal region.

The seized firearms and ammunition, along with the surrendered robbers, will be handed over for further legal proceedings, while the process is underway to return the rescued fisherman to his family, the release said.

The Coast Guard warned that those who continue criminal activities instead of surrendering would face tougher legal action under the government’s “zero tolerance” policy.