(IN): Rockybul for CBI probe into rhino poaching

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Link:http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=feb0608/at06

 

*Rockybul for CBI probe into rhino poaching

 

* By Our Correspondent

GUWAHATI, Feb 5 – The State Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain today

dispatched a letter to the Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi urging him to initiate

steps for an enquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the

rising instance of poaching of the one-horned rhino in the famed Kaziranga

National Park. Briefing the media here today, the Minister asserted, " I have

no problems even if the enquiry is conducted by Scotland Yard. If required,

I will step down from the chair of the Forest Minister to facilitate the

probe. "

 

With the fifth rhino poached this year in the State today, Hussain also

announced a slew of security enhancement measures in the KNP, including

increasing staff strength and setting up watchtowers.

 

One male rhino was killed in Central Kohora range at around 6:45 am today.

It is the third rhino killed in the Park boundaries this year, while two

others were killed outside the KNP.

 

The poachers once again escaped with the horn though forest guards had fired

back on hearing gunshots.

 

" Following the incident, a massive search operation has been launched to nab

the poachers, " said Hussain.

 

He further informed that as an immediate measure, the State Government would

set up five watchtowers along the National Highway end that does not fall

under KNP, while 25 new camps would be established in the Park area along

the NH.

 

" One flying squad would be appointed, while other five rapid action units

would also be constituted very soon. Another 100 armed home guards will also

be appointed in the KNP as well, " Hussain said.

 

He informed that against the sanctioned 504 posts in the KNP, 437 men were

in position adding that only nine posts of foresters and guards were vacant,

while the other vacancies were in non-frontline staff category.

 

The Minister, however, emphasized that this staff strength was calculated

when the Park area was 430 sq km, but the Park area has now increased to 859

sq km, though the staff strength has not increased in a proportionate

manner.

 

" The Park area would be further increased with four new additions that we

are working on, " he said.

 

As an immediate step, five armed Home Guard sections have been deputed to

KNP, while senior Forest department officials are visiting the Park to

assess any loophole as the rhino was killed even after tight security and

greater awareness among local people.

 

Referring to a report submitted on Saturday by an expert committee to

suggest measures to stop poaching and other illegal activities in KNP,

Hussain said, " The report is being processed and we will initiate steps very

soon, based on its recommendations. "

 

Besides increasing staff strength and sophisticated armoury for the KNP

staff to match that of the poachers.

 

The other recommendations include a special task force, appointment of local

villagers as informers, camps at every two km along the national highway

stretch that passes through the Park and development of communication

infrastructure.

 

The Minister today also took a dig at Opposition party Asom United

Democratic Front (AUDF) and the All Assam Students' Union (AASU) for being

vocal against him rather than suggesting concrete measures to check

poaching.

 

" They are trying to politicise the issue for their vested interest and are

not concerned about the real issue, " the Minister added.

 

Meanwhile, the All Assam Students' Union, while condemning the continuous

killing of rhino alleged that the rising instance of rhino poaching has

taken place mostly due to incapability of the State Forest Minister.

 

The Golaghat unit of the student body, in protest of it, would go for a

sit-in demonstration before the KNP on February 7.

 

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