(IN): Demo against rhino poaching

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Link: http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=jan2808\City1*

 

Demo against rhino poaching

* By A Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Jan 27 – Artistes, literateurs and personalities from different

fields today staged a sit-in demonstration at the Latasil field in protest

against the spurt in rhino poaching in the State, the Kaziranga National

Park in particular.

 

The demonstration was organized by the All Assam Students' Union and the

Asom Unnati Sabha.

 

The agitators included Ramen Baruah, Pulak Banerjee, JP Das, Dhiren Baruah,

Dharmeswar Bora, Khanindra Chandra Das and Bijan Mahajan, among others,

besides AASU adviser Dr Samujjal Bhattacharya, president Sankar Prasad Ray

and general secretary Tapan Gogoi.

 

The protestors decried the role of the State Government and Forest Minister

Rockybul Hussain for the plight of the rhino, which is increasingly falling

prey to poachers in Kaziranga.

 

They also expressed concern over the shrinking forests of the State, and

called upon the Government to initiate measures to stem the rot.

 

Meanwhile, expressing concern at the spurt in rhino poaching in the famed

Kaziranga National Park, the Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF) said that

the AUDF would make it an issue and raise it at the international fora.

 

" The way the rhino – the symbol of the State's natural heritage – is being

decimated at its stronghold Kaziranga, it indicates a deep-rooted conspiracy

with involvement of a section of forest officials. Things could deteriorate

to this extent because of the shocking indifference of the Forest Minister

and his department, " AUDF president Badaruddin Ajmal said, adding that the

developments also exposed the " utter failure " of the Forest Minister in

protecting wildlife and their habitat.

 

Ajmal said that the AUDF was getting in touch with wildlife activists across

the country and abroad for highlighting the recent plight of the endangered

rhino. " Not just the rhino, all types of wild animals in the State are

facing a bleak future due to rampant deforestation and encroachment, " he

said.

 

Ajmal further said that the AUDF would press for a CBI inquiry into the

worsening incidence of rhino poaching.

 

It may be mentioned that some 20 rhinos were killed in and around Kaziranga

National Park last year. In the last incident, poachers brutally hacked off

the horn of a wounded rhino and also killed her calf just outside the Park

on Saturday night. The wounded rhino died a slow and agonizing death after

battling for life for over 36 hours.

 

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