Bhubaneswar, March 19:  An official reported that a turtle patrol vessel from the Forest Department came under attack by the crew of trawlers engaged in illegal fishing within the prohibited waters of Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary in Odisha’s Kendrapada district.

According to sources, an eleven-member turtle patrol vessel discovered 15-20 trawlers fishing in the restricted waters on Monday afternoon. When officials approached them and demanded their surrender near the Mahanadi river mouth in front of Hukitola, the fishermen launched an attack on the patrol vessel.

Assistant Conservator of Forest, Manas Kumar Dash, stated, "Without warning, the trawlers advanced towards the patrol vessel, with the intent to overturn it. Despite being outnumbered, the crew of the patrol vessel refrained from using firearms in self-defence."

The intruders withdrew after two additional forest vessels hurried to the scene upon receiving a distress call from the officials, Dash added. Subsequently, a complaint was lodged at the Dhamra Marine police station against the owners of the trawlers.

Powered by Froala Editor