Panaji: Coastal police on Friday registered an FIR against fishing trawler owners and tandels after four vessels allegedly fled from fisheries department custody, triggering concerns over enforcement of fishing regulations.The department had seized 10 trawlers for illegal fishing in Goan waters.While the vessels were impounded at the Mandovi, four escaped on Thursday — including one unregistered trawler, one from Ratnagiri in Maharashtra, and two from Honnavar in Karnataka.Police registered offenses under Sections 303(2) (theft) and 223 (disobedience to lawful orders by a public servant) of the BNS.The accused have been identified as Rosy Anton Fernandes and Fareed Abdul Sab from Honnavar in Karnataka Faiyaz Adam Borkar from Ratnagiri, and Narayan Subray Ambij (unregistered).PI Sajith Pillai said the vessels were detained for fishing without permission and brought to the Panaji jetty after a joint operation involving fisheries officials, coastal police, and local fishermen.The fisheries department had issued impounding orders and directed that crew remain onboard to safeguard equipment and prevent tampering.“However, the accused fishermen took away their fishing vessels without permission from the competent authority, thereby committing theft and disobeying the impounding order,” Pillai said.
