Mandya: The deaths of hundreds of fish of various species, especially the Masheer, at the boating pond at Brindavan Gardens in Krishna Raja Sagar (KRS) Reservoir on Oct. 31 were due to toxic bait used by the miscreants to fish illegally.

According to the latest report of the Fisheries Department, miscreants had mixed copper sulphate with bait to fish them illegally.

The Department has lodged a complaint with the Police in this regard.

It is learnt that miscreants mix copper sulphate with food and drop the food in the water. The fish which eats the food die and float on the water. The miscreants then collect the dead fish and sell them.

Sources said that fishing Masheer is illegal as they are endangered species and fishing is KRS backwaters is banned.  Masheer fish is found only in cold waters and are found across Cauvery River along with other exotic fish which are in huge demand.