In a major crackdown under the “Maa Hilsa Conservation Campaign-2025,” the River Police have detained 1,275 individuals and confiscated nearly 19 crore meters of illegal fishing nets, along with a substantial haul of fish and hundreds of fishing vessels, over the past 12 days.
“A total of 1,275 people were arrested from 4 October till the date from across the country on charges of fishing ignoring the ban,” a press release from the River Police stated. The operations also resulted in the seizure of 15,796 kilograms of fish and 506 boats, the release added.
During this period, the River Police conducted 421 mobile court drives nationwide, leading to the filing of 278 cases. The confiscated fishing nets were destroyed, while the caught fish were distributed among local orphanages.
Earlier, the government had imposed a ban on the transportation, storage, purchase, sale, processing, marketing, and exchange of Hilsa until 25 October, as part of efforts to conserve the prized fish under the Maa Hilsa Conservation Campaign-2025.
