The poachers seem to be on a spree to make a record in Assam. Making a mockery of Assam Government’s tall talks about overall security and law and order situation in Assam, the poachers have killed yet another one-horned rhino in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park and took away its horn.
The poaching came to the light on Friday after the forest guards recovered the carcass of a full grown rhino at Kohora forest range of the park. The horn of the rhino was missing, which indicated it to be a case of poaching. The last rhino was killed inside the high security Kaziranga National Park on July 10 — barely a week ago.
“The forest guards patrolling the park on Friday recovered the carcass and its horn was missing. We suspect the rhino was killed last night. The militants have used AK-47 rifle,” said a park official on condition of anonymity. He said that they have also recovered used bullets of AK-47 rifle and an axe from near the carcass.
Assam Forest and Environment Minister Rockybul Hussain had recently said that there are close to 1,200 staff from frontline staff to the rangers and conservator of forests in Kaziranga National Park. He had also said that the Government is planning to send about 150 additional forces of the Assam Forest Protection Force (AFPF) to the Kaziranga depending on requirement to secure the wildlife of the park considering the monsoon season.
A total of 42 rhinos have been poached in Assam last year which included 27 rhinos in Kaziranga national park. “The Forest Minister had failed in providing security to the wildlife. One-horned rhinos, which are the pride of the State, have been killed by poachers whenever they want. The forest department has become a mute spectator,” said AGP president Atul Bora while condemning the role of the Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and the Forest Minister over the issue.