Assam: Poacher killed in encounter, Rhino horn recovered

GUWAHATI, June 13, 2018: A poacher was shot dead by Forest guards of Kaziranga National Park but not before a rhino had been killed.

The horn, however, could not be taken away.

Six rhinos have been poached in Kaziranga till date this year, including this one.

The encounter took place at Nalahmukh anti-poaching camp under Bagori range of Kaziranga National Park in Nagaon district of central Assam on Monday night.

A group of five poachers entered Kaziranga National Park's Bagori range and shot dead a rhino and took away its horn.

On hearing the gunfire, the forest team, led by Bagori range officer and a group of forest guards, launched the search operation and exchanged fire with the poachers.

Divisional forest officer of Kaziranga National Park, Rohini Ballav Saikia, said forest officials heard gunshots inside the park under Kaoimari forest camp at Bagori.

A team of forest guards went to the site where gunshots were heard.

Suddenly the group of five poachers opened fire from Nalamukh anti-poaching camp, Saikia said. The guards retaliated.

After the exchange of gunfire, the forest team launched a search operation and found a bullet-riddled body of a poacher. Saikia said the team recovered a rhino horn and a .303 rifle, ammunition and two bags containing materials used for poaching. The body of the poacher is yet to be identified and search is on for the carcass of the rhino.

Source: The Telegraph

Featured image: Representation