Spray on water caltrops kills fish in Beas, six booked

TARNTARAN:THOUSANDS of small fish have died in the Beas after a poisonous spray was done on illegally grown water caltrops on the river bank at Kirian village of Khadoor Sahib subdivision.

Police said the incident took place on Thursday when six persons, Balwinder Singh, Sandeep Singh, Balvir Singh, Abhi, Ashok Kumar and Satpal Singh, of Kirian village sprayed poison in the marshy area on the banks of the river where illegal farming of water caltrop had been done.

Police have registered a case against them under Section 51 of the Wildlife (Protection Act), 1972, and Section 429 (mischief by killing or maiming cattle, etc) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at Chohla Sahib police station, on the complaint of Kamaljit Singh, who is posted as a forest officer in Harike.

Assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Sukhwant Singh of Chohla Sahib police station said raids were on to nab the accused.

Illegal farming of water caltrops is rampant along the Beas and Sutlej falling in Tarn Taran district.