Forest guard shot dead fisherman

Kendrapada, Dec 14 (UNI) A 35-year-old fisherman was shot dead by forest guards near Barunei-Madali river mouth inside the Gahiramatha marine sanctuary of Bhitarknaika National Park today.

Police said the incident took place when the deceased along with four other fishermen were returning in a mechanised boat from the prohibited zone of Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary.

The victim was identified as Vikash Biswas, alias Kalu, of Kharinashi village of Mahakalapada block of Kendrapara district.

According to fishermen, who had gone to catch fish with Vikash were returning from the sea after fishing beyond the marine sanctuary area when the forest guards ordered them to hand over their fish. When they refused, the guards opened fire at them killing Vikash on the spot.

Meanwhile, tension prevailed in the area soon after the body of the fisherman arrived at the Kharnashi jetty. Over 200 villagers, including women, later took the body to Ramnagar police outpost and staged a demonstration in front of it demanding adequate compensation to the deceased's family and action against the forest guards.

The irate fishermen had decided not to hand over the body to the police for autopsy till the district administration fulfilled their demand.

When contacted, the forest official sources said the fishermen were catching fish inside the restricted zone of Gahirmatha Marine sanctuary and did not leave the zone despite warning.

The fishermen, the forest officials said, instead of leaving the zone, attacked the patrol party, which opened fire in self-defence in which one fisherman was injured seriously and later succumbed.

On November 25 last, one Ramesh Soren of Balesore district was injured seriously after the forest guards opened fire on him while he and 11 others fishermen were catching fish near Ekakkula island inside the prohibited land of Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary. Later, all the fishermen were arrested and their trawler seized.

Prior to this, on January 2 one Ganesh Das, a resident of 24 South Parganas of Kakdeep (West Bengal), was killed by forest guards while he along with 18 other fishermen were fishing inside the protected zone of Gahirmatha sanctuary.

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