(IN): Assam Killing Fields Update: Dispur transfers Kaziranga DFO

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Link: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080501/jsp/guwahati/story_9213023.jsp

 

Dispur transfers Kaziranga DFO

A STAFF REPORTER

 

Guwahati, April 30: The Assam forest department today transferred the

divisional forest officer (DFO) of Kaziranga, Bankim Sharma, and

formed a nine-member team to visit the rhino-bearing areas of the

state and ascertain the reasons behind the sudden spurt in poaching.

 

Sources said the nine-member team comprising top department officials

was formed after forest minister Rockybul Hussain asked the department

to investigate the reasons behind the rhino killings.

 

" We have been asked to find out the reasons behind this renewed spurt

in poaching. The team will visit Kaziranga, Orang and Pobitora — the

main rhino-bearing areas of Assam, " the principal chief conservator of

forests, M.C. Malakar, said.

 

Divyadhar Gogoi, who is now with the social forestry wing in

Mangoldoi, will replace Sharma, sources said. Gogoi had earlier worked

in Kaziranga as the assistant conservator of forest.

 

Sharma, who served in Kaziranga for less than a year, was removed to

show that Dispur would act tough against anybody erring in his duties.

Several rhinos were killed during Sharma's tenure.

 

Malakar said the team would like to know what had gone wrong with the

steps taken earlier. " Forest guards were appointed, arms were

provided, security was reinforced. We want to find out where have we

gone wrong, " he said.

 

The team would also talk to park officials. " It does a world of good

when senior officers come and boost our morale, " a park official said.

 

The team will also investigate the status of people arrested for

poaching. Sources said many of the arrested were already out on bail.

 

Officials believe a better intelligence network and tough action

against poachers would help curb poaching.

On 4/30/08, AZAM SIDDIQUI <azam24x7 wrote:

> Link: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080430/jsp/guwahati/story_9208328.jsp

>

> Rhino carcass at Orang

> A STAFF REPORTER

>

> Guwahati, April 29: Forest officials today recovered the carcass of a

> male rhino at the Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park, at a time when

> additional armed guards arrived at the park to step up security.

>

> A gang of three poachers killed the rhino at the Hathi camp area on

> Sunday. The poachers fled from the spot when they saw forest personnel

> heading towards them.

>

> " Forest personnel rushed to the spot within minutes but the poachers

> fled, " said an official, adding that the poachers had fired three

> rounds at them.

>

> " Our officials were trying to locate the rhino and finally found it

> this morning, " the official said. The poachers could not take away the

> horn.

>

> This is the third rhino to be killed in Orang in the past two weeks

> and has raised fears that the park was becoming a soft target for

> poachers.

>

> Aaranyak, a wildlife conservation organisation, has called for giving

> equal importance to Orang, regarded as a miniature of Kaziranga.

>

> The All Assam Students Union (AASU) today criticised chief minister

> Tarun Gogoi for his failure to protect rhinos. Its advisor Samujjal

> Bhattacharyya told newsmen that when every individual in the state had

> expressed concern over the rampant killing of rhinos, the state

> government was only a mute spectator.

>

> " Gogoi has totally failed in taking steps to protect this prized

> possession of Assam, " he said.

>

> AASU president Shankar Prashad Rai said the students' union would not

> allow the continuous killings of rhinos.

>

> " We will launch a massive agitation in protest against the

> government's failure to protect the rhinos, " he said.

>

>

> On 4/28/08, AZAM SIDDIQUI <azam24x7 wrote:

> > Monday, April 28` 2007

> >

> > An adult rhinoceros and its baby was killed in the wee hours this morning

by

> > poachers who have liteally taken over Assam`s national parks and

sanctiaries

> > as the Government watches helplessly. The horns were taken away by the

> > poachers.

> >

> > It may be noted that few days back two adult rhinos were killed at the

Orang

> > National Park in the state but the poachers failed to run away with the

> > horns due to the gun battle that follwed between the poachers and the

> > guards.

> >

> > Azam Siddiqui

> >

> >

> >

> > --

> > United against elephant polo

> > http://www.stopelephantpolo.com

>

>

>

> --

> United against elephant polo

> http://www.stopelephantpolo.com

>

 

 

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