Three poachers killed in encounter in Kaziranga
Three rhino poachers were killed in a gun battle with forest guards in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park (KNP) in the early hours of Wednesday, officials said.
The encounter took place ain Burhapahar forest range inside the park, around 3 am on Wednesday.
Following a tip-off, forest guards launched an operation in the area where a poacher group entered the national park from the adjacent Karbi hills.
“When forest guards reached the area where the poacher group was hiding, poachers started firing at the forest guards and forced us to exchange bullets. A poacher was killed and two others managed to escape,” a top KNP forest official said.
Forest guards chased the fleeing poacher duo and killed them after a fierce 25 minute gun battle.
Forest guards recovered two 303 rifles with silencers fitted and one round of ammunition, one 9mm pistol with nine rounds of ammunition from the slain poachers.
Poachers have killed three one horned rhinos in Kaziranga this year so far. See Second Rhino Killed In 2015 In Assam
Assam lost 36 rhinos which were poached from various places, including 27 in Kaziranga in last year. See Poachers Kill Pregnant One Horned Rhino: Guard Killed Trying To Protect Her
