(IN): Poaching slur angers Kaziranga guards

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http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080130/jsp/guwahati/story_8840578.jsp

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**Poaching slur angers Kaziranga guards*

A STAFF REPORTER

 

*Guwahati, Jan. 29:* Allegations that forest guards may be aiding and

abetting rhino poaching in Kaziranga National Park have enraged the

protectors, who are now threatening to lay down arms.

 

Some NGOs raised the issue after .315 rifles cartridges were found at the

site where poachers killed a rhino and its calf recently. Kaziranga guards,

too, use .315 rifles.

 

The guards, under the banner of Assam Forest Employees Union, have requested

the Sadou Asam Karmachari Parishad, the apex body of the state government

employees, to take up the matter with the government immediately.

 

The state government has already constituted two inquiry commissions to

probe the incidents of rhino poaching at Kaziranga.

 

The forest guards' union has now set a deadline of February 7 for an inquiry

to be conducted into these allegations so that truth prevails.

 

It also demanded legal action against the agency/agencies which levelled the

allegations.

 

" Such baseless allegations will only demoralise the dedicated force of

forest guards at Kaziranga, " Tarun Rajkhowa, a forest guard at the Bagori

range said.

 

The park procured 117 .315 bore rifles from the Ichhapur rifle factory in

West Bengal in 1997 and another 50 such weapons last year. In between, it

had bought 15 more such rifles.

 

A senior forest official said the .315 rifle is not a prohibitive bore and

anyone with a licence can procure bullets for the weapons.

 

" It is not only forest guards who possess cartridges of this weapon, " he

said.

 

Apart from five live cartridges of .315 rifle, five bullets of .303 rifle

were also found at the site of the poaching. The .303 rifle is a prohibited

bore only to be used by security personnel.

 

" The recovery of .303 rifle bullet does not mean that security personnel are

involved in rhino poaching, " the official said. An official at Kaziranga

said the forest guards were a demoralised lot and such allegations would

only compound problems.

 

 

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