SHILLONG:
Thieves have made off with the largest catch of fresh water fish from a government established and community-run sanctuary in the heart of Williamnagar town in East Garo Hills taking advantage of the late hours of December 12 night.
Locals residing next to the Warima fish sanctuary woke up to scenes of several dozen dead fish floating in the waters and quickly alerted authorities.
“Apparantly, the theft took place late at night and all indications are that they used poison because we came across many fishes gasping for air and floating to the surface. We have lodged a police FIR,” informed fisheries officer Kangku Oliver Sangma as samples of fish recovered from the water have also been sent for a poat mortem to identify the kind of toxin used by the perpetrators of the crime.
Authorities are warning the public to avoid consuming any catch that is suspicious of poisoning.
“We urge everyone not to consume any riverine fish sold in and around Williamnagar town and area as a safety measure,” advised the fishery officer.
The Warima fish sanctuary came into being in 2013 with the state government establishing it for the community to manage it to boost tourism and also expand aquaculture through fish breeding.
Fed directly by fresh water from the Simsang river, the Warima fish sanctuary has over the years swelled in numbers of a variety of species.
From the river goonch to the indian trout to local varieties of Nawak, the sanctuary had also become a haven for the Narong or indian mahseer variety of fish.
All that appears to have been lost in that fish heist on December 12th night.
“Between 150 to 200 kgs of a variety of matured fish have been lifted by the fish thieves, ” said the fishery officer.