Three Boats Seized, 8 Fishermen Arrested

KENDRAPADA: The forest personnel of Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary have seized three mechanised vessels on the charges of their unauthorised entry into the sanctuary and catching fish illegally, said an official on Wednesday.

Eight fishermen were also arrested for illegally catching fish illegally near Babubali, just 2.5 km distance from the coast, under Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary.

The forest personnel seized the fishing boats from their possessions.

The arrested fishermen have been identified as Srikrishna Das, Hiralal Das, Abhaya Das, Rabindra Maiti, Sarat Kumar Maiti, Radhakrishna Maiti, Srikrishna Pal and Khokan Mandal, said the official.

The arrested fishermen were sent to jail after a local court rejected their bail plea on Wednesday, informed Subrat Kumar Patra, the Ranger of Gahirmatha marine sanctuary.