A mob gouged out eyes of seven pirates at Char Kukrimukri in Bhola district yesterday.

The pirates were initially identified as Sohrab Hossain, 31, Ruhul Amin, 40, Abdur Rahman, 35, Nur Nabi, 35, Abdul Mannan, 44, Shahid, 29, and Lokman.

Md Saifuddin, assistant police superintendent of Bhola, said they sent the injured to Char Fashion upazila health complex under police custody.

Police and locals said a pirate gang last Wednesday abducted fishermen Babul, Ali Abbas Majhi and Harun Mridha along with their fishing boats from Diamonura and Dakatia

Ghat on Meghna estuary.

The pirates later claiming themselves members of Rana Bahini gave a cellphone number to the abductees' families to negotiate ransom.

To rescue the abducted fishermen and their trawlers, law enforcers from Char Aicha Police Post and Char Fashion Police Station started an operation and as a part of the initiative they chased several pirate trawlers yesterday to find a lead to catch the abductors.

One of the pirate trawlers had to land in Char Kukrimukri as its engine broke down amid heavy downpour. The pirates then took shelter in Uttar Muslimpara Primary School in the area.

Locals said when they heard about the men, they thronged and besieged the school and informed police about it around 11:00am.

Police reached the spot around 1:30pm and rescued the pirates from the mob. They also recovered two pistols, a pipe gun, 22 bullets, a detached gun barrel and some sharp weapons from the pirates, said SubInspector Alamgir of Char Fashion Police Station.