Hyderabad: Anglers struggle to pursue age-old hobby amid police crackdowns

Hyderabad: Anglers from the city are in a dilemma over continuing their age-old hobby following frequent police crackdowns at water bodies in city suburbs.
Carrying line, hook and a rod for years, the anglers visit the suburbs in the city for fishing and usually spend the whole day at lakes or tanks to catch a fish.
However, since a year, the police have not allowed them to visit the water bodies. Many a times, they are let off at the spot after counselling and warning, while a few times the police detain them for hours and book petty cases against them.
“Last time, when I visited the Shamshabad lake for fishing, the police caught me and took me to the police station. We were paraded before the media and let off after a warning. My family got worried and asked me to stop the practice. Now I travel to Karnataka for fishing,” said Mustafa Quadri, a local resident of Hashamabad, Chandrayangutta.
“For fear of police, several anglers are now travelling 100 to 300 kilometres away from the city for fishing. The hobby they cultivated for decades won’t die easily,” said Mohd Haji, a resident of Kalapather, who now visits Akkampally Reservoir in Nalgonda district for fishing on weekends.
Two shops established in the 1950s in Lal Bazaar, Charminar are testimony to the age-old hobby. Mohd Imtiyaz, who runs a shop named ‘Mohammed Siddiq Fishing Articles’, says his forefathers had set up the shop in 1954 and he continues the business. “We stock all kinds of fishing articles that include hooks and line too. People come to purchase the articles on weekends when they head for fishing,” he said.
Following the online availability of the articles, the sales have dropped to certain extent. “We still enjoy patronage of our customers. Fiberglass and fibre carbon rods are the latest articles,” said Syed Azhar Hussain of Diamond Angler’s Hub.
A modern fishing rod costs between Rs 500 and Rs 10,000 in the market while the conventional wooden variety is priced between Rs 100 and Rs 150. The prices are much higher for branded articles.
The police maintain that following incidents of people drowning in the water bodies, they are a bit strict. “Sometimes, people who come to the lakes for fishing quarrel among themselves leading to law and order issues. Some are totally drunk but still come and sit near the lake on the pretext of fishing,” said an Inspector of Police working in city suburbs.
All things fishing
Fishing rod (wooden) Rs 100 to Rs 150 each
Fishing rod (fibre) Rs 500 to Rs 10,000
Fishing line – Rs 200 to Rs 500
Fishing hook – Rs 100 to Rs 1,200
Fishing net – Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,200
Fishing reel – Rs 1,000 to Rs 5,000