Two people have been arrested after dead fish were found in a pond inside the secured headquarters of Kolkata Police’s Eighth and Second Battalions near BT Road in the Kashipur area, with investigators alleging that pesticide-like substances may have been used to facilitate fish theft.
The incident came to light after police personnel noticed dead fish floating in the pond, according to a report by Anandabazar. The pond, located inside the battalion compound, is used for fish farming. Police personnel reportedly saw the fish four days before the complaint was filed, after a large number of them surfaced across the water body within a short period.
An inspector-rank officer of Kolkata Police lodged a complaint at Kashipur police station the following day. Police subsequently began an investigation into the suspected use of chemicals in the pond. Two empty bottles described as containing pesticide-like substances were recovered from the site, according to police sources cited in the report.
The arrested men have been identified as Himadri Saha and Sohorab Ali. Police reportedly reviewed closed-circuit television footage from the compound before making the arrests. The two men have been taken into custody while investigators examine their alleged role in the incident.
The compound houses the headquarters of Kolkata Police’s Eighth and Second Battalions as well as residential facilities for police personnel. Each battalion is reported to have around 1,000 police personnel. The site is protected and members of the public are not permitted to enter without authorisation.
The location has therefore added a security dimension to what initially appeared to be a suspected fish-theft case. Investigators are examining whether the alleged motive was limited to stealing fish or whether there was another purpose behind the suspected use of chemicals. Police are also checking whether additional people were involved.
The case places attention on access control and surveillance within secured government premises. The available report does not establish the quantity or chemical composition of the substances recovered, the value of the fish or whether the pond water was tested for contamination. Further findings from the Kashipur police investigation are awaited.
