There were riotous scenes at a fishing competition in Umran, Ri-Bhoi, today after participants suspected that one angler who claimed to have made a big catch may have resorted to fishy behaviour in connivance with the organisers.
Participants forked out Rs 2,000 each to take part and demanded their money back, to which the organisers acquiesced in order to prevent further trouble.
Such fishing competitions have been in the news for all the wrong reasons of late, since the death of an infant who was stuck in a traffic jam caused by one such event in West Khasi Hills while on the way to hospital earlier this month. Subsequently, the Governor revoked the notification that was issued in July relating to the administration and control of such competitions under the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council (KHADC). It is not understood how today’s competition was able to go ahead despite this.
Hundreds of keen fishermen took part in the competition, which began at 9am. The trouble broke out when one submitted his catch for weighing. The fish is said to have been half-dead, leading many to suspect that it had been brought to the competition site from elsewhere.
The ensuing disagreement escalated into an altercation between the fishermen and the event organisers, who were accused of colluding with the man who submitted the big catch. Police who were rushed in from Umsning eventually restored order and took the angler in question into their protection.
