Three Arrested for Illegal Fishing in Biswanath District

In a significant crackdown, police in Biswanath district have arrested three fish traders for engaging in illegal fishing activities in the Brahmaputra River during the breeding season. The suspects were found using prohibited fishing nets and transporting their catch despite a ban imposed by the District Magistrate. Authorities are now investigating further to uncover additional individuals involved in this illegal network. The district has strict regulations in place to protect fish during their breeding period, highlighting the importance of compliance with local laws. This incident underscores ongoing efforts to safeguard aquatic life in the region.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 22, 2026, 20:16 IST

Illegal Fishing Operation Disrupted

Three fish traders arrested for allegedly carrying out illegal fishing in Biswanath district (Photo: AT)

Biswanath, April 22: Authorities in Biswanath district have apprehended three individuals involved in illegal fishing activities in the Brahmaputra River during the designated breeding season.

The suspects have been named as Azizul Haque, Mohammad Anwar Ali, and Mohammad Nur Alam, all hailing from the Biswanath area.

Law enforcement reported that the trio was allegedly fishing from boats and transporting their catch to other districts, in violation of a prohibitory order from the District Magistrate.

Police have filed Case No. 84/26 under various sections against the accused, including BNS 3(5), 61(2), 223, and 303(2).

In a press briefing on Wednesday, Senior Superintendent of Police Ajagwran Basumatary stated that police and associated organizations were on high alert following the order and were closely monitoring vulnerable riverbank regions.

“We received reports of individuals illegally fishing and selling their catch across tributaries of the Brahmaputra from less populated areas,” he noted.

During the operation, authorities discovered that the suspects were using fishing nets with a mesh size of only 5 cm, which contravened the regulations set by the district administration.

“On Tuesday, we successfully apprehended the three individuals linked to this case,” Basumatary confirmed.

He also mentioned that during questioning, it was revealed that more individuals were part of the illegal fishing network, and efforts are ongoing to locate them.

“We learned that several others are involved in this illegal activity. We are actively searching for them, but they are currently evading capture,” he elaborated.

“We will place the arrested individuals under police remand to ensure that all those involved in these illegal activities are apprehended,” the senior police official stated, adding that further investigations are in progress.

In light of the fish breeding season, District Magistrate Laxinandan Sahariya had imposed a fishing ban from April 1 to July 15 across all wetlands, rivers, and ponds in the district on March 30, 2026.

The order also specified conditions for fishing, including the requirement to use nets with a minimum mesh size of 7 cm to protect fish during their breeding period.