Assam: Rare Golden Mahseer Poacher Arrested Near Orang National Park, 17 Protected Fish Seized

Tezpur: Forest officials from Orang National Park, in a joint operation with Kharupetia Police in Darrang, Assam, arrested a 23-year-old youth illegally fishing the highly endangered Golden Mahseer (locally known as Pipli Cheng), a Schedule-I protected species.

The accused, identified as Mofidul Islam of Kasomari Sonari village under Dalgaon Police Station in Darrang district, was initially detained by Kharupetia Police after locals tipped them off about suspicious activity near the suspect’s house in a village close to Kharupetia.

Acting swiftly, police informed the Orang National Park forest staff, who recovered 17 live Golden Mahseer fish and one mobile phone from the accused’s possession.

The seized fish were later transported to the national park for safe release.

Following interrogation, forest officials produced Mofidul Islam before a magistrate, who remanded him to judicial custody for further investigation into the poaching racket.

Officials suspect the involvement of a larger network, and the investigation is ongoing. Poaching of the Golden Mahseer, revered as the “tiger of rivers,” carries stringent penalties under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Wild specimens of the fish fetch the highest premiums in Southeast Asian grey markets; poached fish is often smuggled to restaurants in Malaysia, Indonesia, or China.

Cultured alternatives sell for USD 30–50 per kg legally, but wild ones command 3–5x more due to perceived superior taste and status.

Also Read: Upper Assam Buddhist Community Demands Swift Action After Brutal Murder of Venerable Monk