Balugaon: Eleven fishermen were arrested on Monday for allegedly entering the prohibited Nalban area of Chilika Lake and carrying out illegal fishing activities in violation of government restrictions, forest officials said.
According to the Wildlife Division authorities, the arrests were made during a patrol operation led by Jitendra Jena, Forester of the Parikud Wildlife Division under Balugaon.
Officials said fishermen from nearby Chandraput and Atharabatia villages had illegally entered the restricted zone and were fishing despite an official ban on entry into the protected Nalabana area.
During the patrol, wildlife personnel intercepted the fishermen and seized two mechanised boats, 13 bundles of fishing nets, two boxes containing chilled fish, and other fishing equipment from their possession.
Wildlife DFO Amlan Nayak said two cases — numbered 09B and 10B — had been registered against the accused under the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
The arrested persons from Atharabatia village were identified as Duryodhan Jali (50), Bankanidhi Jali (69), Srikant Das (49), Suresh Das (53), Ashok Behera (54), and Bhikari Das (46).
Those arrested from Chandraput village were identified as Lingaraj Jali (60), Mohan Jali (42), Rupak Jali (36), Biresh Jali (32), and Dillip Jali (40).
All the accused were forwarded to court on Monday, the DFO added.
