Assam Tribune , Monday, January 28, 2008

Correspondent : Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Jan 27 – Artistes, litterateurs and personalities from different fields today staged a sit-in demonstration at the Latasil field in protest against the spurt in rhino poaching in the State, the Kaziranga National Park in particular. The demonstration was organized by the All Assam Students’ Union and the Asom Unnati Sabha. The agitators included Ramen Baruah, Pulak Banerjee, JP Das, Dhiren Baruah, Dharmeswar Bora, Khanindra Chandra Das and Bijan Mahajan, among others, besides AASU adviser Dr Samujjal Bhattacharya, president Sankar Prasad Ray and general secretary Tapan Gogoi. The protestors decried the role of the State Government and Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain for the plight of the rhino, which is increasingly falling prey to poachers in Kaziranga. They also expressed concern over the shrinking forests of the State, and called upon the Government to initiate measures to stem the rot.Meanwhile, expressing concern at the spurt in rhino poaching in the famed Kaziranga National Park, the Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF) said that the AUDF would make it an issue and raise it at the international fora. “The way the rhino – the symbol of the State’s natural heritage – is being decimated at its stronghold Kaziranga, it indicates a deep-rooted conspiracy with involvement of a section of forest officials. Things could deteriorate to this extent because of the shocking indifference of the Forest Minister and his department,” AUDF president Badaruddin Ajmal said, adding that the developments also exposed the “utter failure” of the Forest Minister in protecting wildlife and their habitat. Ajmal said that the AUDF was getting in touch with wildlife activists across the country and abroad for highlighting the recent plight of the endangered rhino. “Not just the rhino, all types of wild animals in the State are facing a bleak future due to rampant deforestation and encroachment,” he said. Ajmal further said that the AUDF would press for a CBI inquiry into the worsening incidence of rhino poaching. It may be mentioned that some 20 rhinos were killed in and around Kaziranga National Park last year. In the last incident, poachers brutally hacked off the horn of a wounded rhino and also killed her calf just outside the Park on Saturday night. The wounded rhino died a slow and agonizing death after battling for life for over 36 hours.

SOURCE : Assam Tribune, Monday, January 28, 2008