17 bodies recovered from rivers nationwide in seven days

River police recovered 17 bodies from rivers across the country over the past seven days.

The recoveries took place between 15 and 21 May, according to a press release issued by River Police Headquarters on Thursday.

River police said authorities filed three murder cases and 11 unnatural death cases over the incidents.

During the same period, river police intensified drives against illegal activities on waterways and filed a total of 96 cases.

The cases included three murder cases, 11 unnatural death cases, 63 cases under fisheries laws, 13 cases related to reckless navigation, one case under the Sand Quarry Act, one narcotics case, one robbery case, one abduction case, one extortion case and one case under the Special Powers Act.

River police also conducted operations across rivers nationwide and seized 231.74 million metres of illegal fishing nets, 2,089 kilograms of fish, 199,500 shrimp fry and 490 kilograms of jelly-injected shrimp.

Authorities filed cases with river courts against 104 bulkheads for operating without valid documents during the drives. Police also seized two dredgers.

River police said officers arrested 302 people in connection with various offences during the weeklong operations.