MUZAFFARGARH: A Fisheries Department team was held hostage by a group of illegal fish poachers during a raid on the Indus River upstream of Super No 2 on Sunday.

The poachers were using electric shocks to catch fish, and when the Fisheries team intervened to stop the illegal activity, the hunters detained them for over an hour and beat them during that time.

In charge of the Fisheries Department Rashid Kulachi was injured in the attack and was rushed to the hospital for treatment.

According to reports, electric shocks were being used to kill and catch the fish. Upon reaching the site, the team found seven poachers, including Abdul Ghaffar Pasha, Abdul Faghour, and Sajan Sindhi, actively fishing with electric devices.

Footage was captured showing the poachers throwing electric devices into the river, which contributed to the mass killing of fish.

The Fisheries Department staff has called for strict action against the poachers and greater protection for their team. They have appealed to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and the director general of Fisheries for immediate intervention.

A case was registered at the Sadar police station, and authorities have vowed to arrest the accused soon.

Published in Dawn, December 16th, 2024