(IN): Naga hand behind poaching at Kaziranga

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Link: http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=may1507/at08

 

Naga hand behind poaching at Kaziranga

From Our Correspondent

DERGAON, May 14 – Increase in poaching of rhinos in Kaziranga

National Park (KNP) has become a matter of serious concern. A total of

five rhinos were killed by poachers and one died outside the park this

year till date.

 

From the confessions of the poachers, it has been found that they were

helped by Naga people with rifles and other weapons. The poacher,

Soonti Patgiri arrested by the Forest department and police on May 4,

disclosed that he was trained in the use of 303 rifles by Naga people

on April 13 at Rangajan in Golaghat.

 

On the other hand, it has been found that a tranquiliser gun traced to

Nagaland was used for poaching at KNP.

 

A huge cache of arms and ammunitions was recovered in Sector 18 of

Latabari TE under Bokakhat PS in an abandoned state. The arms included

a gas gun made in Switzerland, a tranquiliser gun made in America, 51

rounds of live cartridges and other items.

 

Later, it was found that the tranquiliser was procured by Nagaland

Forest department. It was cleared by 'Help Grau' of Pune after

checking the serial number and other documents. In a written report,

the fact has been intimated to the State forest department.

 

When contacted, director of KNP SN Buragohain told The Assam Tribune

that two forest officials of Nagaland Forest department KR Linko (CCF)

and Romesh Ema (conservator) came to Kaziranga on May 9 and discussed

the matter with him. The director also revealed that since the matter

was being probed by police, the enquiry will show the actual picture.

It is pertinent to mention that the Nagaland forest officer had

informed that the tranquiliser gun was missing in 2004. But according

to an official source the fact revealed by the Naga official is not

true. Hence, a proper enquiry into the status of the gun was the need

of the hour.