Rohit Kumar
Port Blair, 16 December 2021
Swiftly acting on information, a joint anti-poaching team comprising of Police, AAJVS and Forest staff apprehended 10 Myanmar nationals who had illegally entered into the Indian territorial waters, along with their boat near Bada Balu, a Jarawa Reserve Area. The team recovered 500 Kgs of Sea Cucumber, Fishing Materials, Boat Assemblies, Binoculars, Compass, Diving Equipment, HSD Oil and Ration Articles from them.
According to the police, on 14/12/2021 credible information was received by HC Mintu Kumar Dey I/c JPP Tirur No.4 that a few fishermen had sighted Myanmarese dinghy near Hiren Tikrey. Immediately, a search team comprising of ASI Muthu Kannan, HC/V. Hentho, PCs Pabitra Sikari, Pabitro Bepari, Davidson, HG/Sukhdev Biswas with arms, ammunition and other assets with 02 staff from AAJVS, 03 Staff from Forest department was constituted under the supervision of SDPO (Bambooflat) to conduct the anti-poaching operation.
The police in a press release further mentioned that the team was briefed by SHO PS Ograbraj T.Dilla Rao about the search operation and thereafter the team left from Tirur on AAJVS boat & wooden dinghy of Forest department and started patrolling in the sea area near Bada Balu. The team kept strict surveillance throughout the night.
On 15/12/2021, the anti-poaching team at about 0500 hrs sighted a fishing dinghy near Bada Balu Jarawa Reserve Area, upon which the joint team swung into action and chased the poacher’s boat. On seeing the patrolling party, the Burmese dinghy tried to escape into the creeks but after 10-15 minutes of chase, the said dinghy was intercepted by the patrolling party and the team then apprehended 10 Myanmar nationals. Upon interrogation, the Myanmarese disclosed that they left Myanmar on 01/12/2021 and reached Bada Balu on 04/12/2021. The poachers were halting at Bada Balu since their arrival and were poaching sea cucumbers.
The general public has been requested to pass on credible information regarding any kind of anti-social activity in their locality or any kind of crime to the Police at 100, 112 & 03192-233077. Police in their press release added that the identity of the informer will be kept secret.
Earlier on 15th Dec 2021 the DGP of Andaman and Nicobar Islands had tweeted some pictures taken during the joint anti-poaching operation.
Poachers with boats apprehended by A&N Police in joint operation with Forest and Adim Janjati officials. Detailed joint interrogation of the apprehended persons will follow. pic.twitter.com/HrScbFsnbx
— DGP A&N Islands (@DGPANIslands) December 15, 2021