Two Rhino Poachers Killed in Kaziranga

Two rhino poachers were killed in a gun fight with security forces in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park (KNP) on Tuesday night and two others were apprehended, officials said on Wednesday.

According to report, forest guards had launched a search operation inside the KNP and killed the poachers during the gun battle.

“Based on intelligence reports, a team of forest guard launched an operation against the poacher inside the park and killed two poachers in two separate incidents at Agaratoli and Kohora in the park,” an official of forest department said.

Forest guards recovered one 303 rifle, ammunition in possession of them.

Meanwhile, police apprehended two rhino poachers at Biswanathghat in Sonitpur district on Tuesday night.

The nabbed poachers were identified as Jamir Islam and Kiran Das and police recovered Rs 3.91 lakh in cash in possession of them.

Poachers killed 13 one horned rhinos in Kaziranga in the past two months this year and killed 21 rhinos in 2012.

Assam forest department deployed 300 jawans of Assam Forest Protection Force (AFPF) to protect wild animals and fight against poachers in the world heritage site.

Recently, Assam forest minister Rockybul Hussain said to protect wild animals including one horned rhinoceros in Kaziranga, the forest guards will be equipped by AK series rifle soon.

“The state forest department already sent proposals to Union Home ministry,” Hussain said.

Hemanta Kumar Nath is a correspondent in Assam, India, who reports on local news in Assam, the north east Indian state.