Malpe: A late-night attempt to steal high-value fish worth approximately Rs 15,000 from a boat anchored at the Malpe Fisheries Harbour jetty ended with a thief being caught and beaten up by the boat workers. The incident occurred on Saturday around midnight.

Three individuals reportedly approached the boat around 12 a.m. on Saturday. Observing that the boat workers were fast asleep, they opened the storage hatch and sent one of their group inside. While the theft was in progress, one of the workers woke up and raised an alarm.

Two of the culprits managed to flee, but the one inside the storage compartment was caught. The boat workers apprehended the thief, interrogated him, and handed him over to the boat owners. The trio is believed to hail from Gadag.

Rise in Fish Theft Cases

Fish thefts have reportedly increased over the past two years, with incidents occurring almost daily over the last two months. Some boats have installed CCTV cameras, bringing such thefts to light.

Who Are These Fish Thieves?

After returning from fishing trips, boats typically store fish in the storage compartments. The workers who unload the fish from the reefers are referred to as “Kottu Party.” These workers are often individuals from North Karnataka. Boat workers and owners allege that some new workers employed by Kottu Party are engaging in these thefts. They arrive late at night, around 2 a.m., and transfer the stolen fish into boxes for transport.