Police arrested a fisherman in Bihar's Saharsa district after a video purportedly showing him catching a dolphin in the Kosi River and taking it home surfaced online, officials said.
The accused, identified as Birendra, was arrested from his residence in the Darhar area following a joint operation by the Forest Department and Bihar Police.
The viral video came to the attention of authorities, prompting the Forest Department and police to launch an investigation into the incident. Officials acted on the footage and began efforts to identify and locate the person allegedly involved.
A named FIR was registered by the Forest
Department following the incident. Subsequently, forest officials and police formed a joint team and conducted raids at possible locations linked to the accused.
After receiving information about Birendra's whereabouts, the joint team, assisted by personnel from the Darhar police station, reached his house and arrested him. Authorities are now investigating the circumstances in which the dolphin was caught and taken home.
Officials are also probing whether other people were involved in the incident. The dolphin is a protected aquatic species, and the Forest Department is examining the case under applicable wildlife protection provisions.