A fisherman was killed in an exchange of fire with a patrol squad in the prohibited Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary in Kendrapara district, police said today.
The deceased was identified as Sk Akbar (19), Kendrapara Superintendent of Police Rabinarayan Behera said.
The squad in two vessels had spotted over 150 fishermen in more than 15 trawlers fishing in the waters and an exchange of fire ensued between them yesterday.One fisherman was killed in the encounter.
Outnumbered by the marauding fishermen, the patrol party alerted the Coast Guard and retreated in a vessel leaving behind another which was later found damaged, police said.
Later a group of angry fishermen carried Akbar's body to Bahakuda ferry ghat and gheraoed the Rajnagar forest range office alleging that the patrolling units had opened fire on the fishermen without any provocation. As tension prevailed, the administration deployed armed police in the area.
Range Officer of Rajnagar Forest Range Subhendu Behera today lodged a complaint with Marine Police station at Jambu against unknown persons.
However, no case has been registered in connection with the death of the fisherman.
Odisha government in a bid to curb high mortality of the marine species has prohibited fishing activity within a radius of 20 km from Gahirmatha Marine Sanctuary from November 1 under the Marine Fishing Regulation Act (OMFRA), 1982.
The fishing prohibition would remain in force till May 31 to make the annual journey of Olive Ridley turtles safer.
