(IN): Calcutta artist joins Kaziranga poacher hunt

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Link: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080212/jsp/guwahati/story_8891668.jsp

 

*Calcutta artist joins Kaziranga poacher hunt*

PULLOCK DUTTA

 

*Guwahati, Feb. 11:* Clueless about the poacher gangs that have been

striking in Kaziranga at frequent intervals since last year, Assam police

have requisitioned the services of an identification expert from Calcutta to

draw portraits of suspected poachers.

 

Debasish Banerjee, who has helped the police solve several crime mysteries,

is back in the state and camping at Kaziranga National Park to gather

information and draw sketches of suspected poachers.

 

" I have spoken to residents of villages in and around Kaziranga and drawn

several sketches already. I am satisfied with two of them and have handed

these two portraits to the police, " Banerjee said today.

 

This is the first known instance of an artist's help being sought to

identify poachers.

 

Golaghat superintendent of police Pradip Saloi said Banerjee was visiting

the police headquarters in Guwahati to handle another case when officials

asked for his help to identify rhino poachers. " Since he has helped us on

several occasions, why not take his help to nail down a few poachers too? "

the SP asked.

 

The subdivisional police officer of Bokakhat, Nabin Singh, said the two

portraits sketched by Banerjee were of persons with " tribal " looks. " The duo

are either from Nagaland or Manipur, " he said.

 

Singh said people residing near the national park were providing information

to the poachers about where rhinos could be easily found. " The villagers are

not directly involved in poaching. They only provide information in exchange

for money. "

 

Most of the local poachers have either been arrested or have surrendered.

 

Kohora police last night arrested a man identified as Nagaina Majhi of

Majline, near Hathikuli tea estate, for helping poachers.

 

Forest guards at Kaziranga picked up two more men — Manna Akthar Ahmed and

Md. Munir Khan — for their alleged involvement in the killing of a rhino and

its calf near Methoni tea estate some weeks ago.

 

Manna, alias Raj, is a resident of Methoni and Muni owns a shop near

Borjuri.

 

On Friday night, a team of forest guards narrowly escaped death when a

Mahindra jeep carrying suspected poachers rammed into their Gypsy. The Gypsy

burst into flames on impact.

 

 

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