Forest authorities at Vedanthangal sanctuary, on Tuesday, released a 23-year-old man who had been detained from Monday afternoon on charges of fishing an exotic species within the protected zone.
They released him after a protest by the youth’s relatives and residents of Vedanthangal village, and lowered the penalty for the offence from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 2,000. Sathyamoorthy was detained by officers after he was found carrying a huge catfish from the sanctuary around 11.30 a.m. on Monday. The fish weighed nearly eight kg.
On hearing that he had been detained, his relatives and other residents of Vedanthangal staged a protest. They also refused to pay the penalty of Rs. 10,000 that the range office levied for the offence.
K. Venu, a resident, said: “He was taken to the ranger’s office in Velachery. Our request was that proceedings be carried out legally as it was not clear initially.”
Forest officials said any non-forestry activity in the sanctuary attracted punishment. In this case, the department decided to impose a penalty of Rs. 10,000.
When the boy’s relatives pleaded with the officers to reduce the penalty amount to Rs. 2,000, they agreed and released the youth.
