(IN): Prized Orang poacher arrested

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Prized Orang poacher arrested

A STAFF REPORTER

 

*Guwahati, July 30:* Three years after he dodged police bullets and

disappeared behind the trees, Gopal Boro, the most dreaded rhino poacher in

Orang National Park, was arrested from a rented house in Morigaon yesterday.

 

The divisional forest officer of Mangaldoi, S. Momin, today said Boro, 35,

was picked up during a joint operation with the army, led by Lt Col Kapil

Bakshi.

 

An unlicensed factory-made .303 rifle fitted with sound filter and 17 rounds

of live ammunition were found on him.

 

In 2005, Boro had managed to find his way out of the park following a fierce

encounter, while one of his accomplices, Rameshwar Basumatary, succumbed to

bullet injuries.

 

Chandan Basumatary, who was part of the three-member poacher's gang, was

arrested.

 

The park authorities have been looking for Boro since.

 

" We had some information and then took the army's help, " Momin said.

 

The 78.81 square km national park has 68 rhinos, according to 2007 census.

 

There were 46 in 1999.

 

Four rhinos have been poached in Orang this year and Dispur has also

deployed home guards to assist the park authorities in day-to-day

management.

 

" Boro had been a menace and his arrest will bring us some relief, " Momin

said.

 

Of late, the park authorities have tasted some success in aborting poaching

attempts.

 

On June 24, the national park staff arrested three poachers, Baburam

Longfar, Tuluram Boro and Hakuram Boro.

 

" We have managed to retain the horn on three occasions, though the rhinos

were killed, " Momin said. With unprecedented security at Kaziranga National

Park, Orang became a soft target for poachers. Six rhinos had fallen prey to

poachers' bullets at Kaziranga till April this year, forcing the government

to step up vigil.

 

Orang has also been identified as a wildlife zone where rhinos will be

translocated under the India Rhino Vision 2020 next year.

 

The programme envisages that Orang will be able to achieve its target

population of 100 rhinos through improved protection.

 

 

 

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