Two fishermen arrested for fishing in Bhitarkanika Nat Park

Forest personnel today took two fishermen into custody on charges of carrying out unlawful fishing activity in the waters of the prohibited Bhitarkanika National Park in Odisha's Kendrapara district.

The fishermen - Prasant Mandal (30) and Lulu Mandal (29) - were intercepted by a poaching squad of the forest department near Kathua creek under the national park jurisdiction, said forest range officer, Akshaya Kumar Nayak.

The nets used for fishing were seized from the arrested persons, who were later remanded to judicial custody under the provisions Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, Nayak said.