Fish mafia opens fire at Forest Dept patrol team during raid in Kendrapara’s Gahirmatha

In a confrontation over illegal fishing, the members of a Forest Department patrolling team were allegedly attacked on Sunday by an organised group of fish mafia in Gahirmatha marine sanctuary in Kendrapara district.

According to sources, the altercation occurred while the officials were conducting a raid aimed at curbing the illicit activity. During the raid, the forest personnel managed to capture three trawlers and nabbed at least nine individuals suspected of illegal fishing.

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The situation escalated when the patrol team came under assault from the fish mafia, who approached in six additional trawlers and opened fire.

Amid the chaos, the attackers succeeded in freeing eight of those nabbed.

When contacted over the phone, a senior forest official expressed, “Our trawler ‘Aliva’ had gone for patrolling in Gahirmatha marine sanctuary. We chased a trawler, which was involved in illegal fishing activities. The occupants informed their accomplices in other trawlers by wireless device.”

“Those trawlers cordoned our patrolling boat and eventually there was an exchange of fire. However, they took eight people with them. The eight managed to jump into the sea and escape,” the forest official said.

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“We have detained the driver of the first trawler along with the watercraft. The raid team was being led by forester Suresh Prusty,” the senior official added.

This incident underscores the perilous nature of enforcement operations against the well-organised and illegal fishing syndicates, indicating a need for heightened security measures to protect patrolling teams.