Addressing mediapersons in the capital city today, Gohain said that though poaching in the national park had been declining upto 2006, has shown an upward swing since 2007.

“Between 1998-2006, there were poaching of 47 rhinos in Kaziranga, but in 2007 with a new forest minister, there were 21 incidents of poaching which was double the figure in a decade for the first time,” said Gohain, adding that since the Prime Minister was also the chairman of the National Board for Wildlife, the poaching of the world famed one-horned rhino should come up for discussion in the next meeting of the Board.

Gohain said that in the present series of poaching in Kaziranga, viciousness of the illegal operations was a matter of great concern, and criticised forest minister Rockybul Hussain for his failure in preventing the spurt in rhino poaching.

Describing Hussain as inefficient and a total failure, Gohain asked for removal of Hussain from his post.

Gohain said that the minister in an effort to deflect criticisms hurled at him had blamed the NSCN and Karbi Anglong based militant organizations for the poaching in the national spark without any enquiry.

On the other hand Gohain expressed his surprise at the total silence of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. It may be mentioned here that Gogoi is the chairman of the State Board for Wildlife.

Pointing out that illegal encroachment by suspected Bangladeshis was going up in the last couple of years, Gohain said that Hussain earlier as home minister and presently as forest minister has failed to evict the encroachers. “It has been alleged that such encroachments are occurring because of the political patronage of Hussain,” said Gohain observing that the recent instances of poaching indicated the involvement of the Bangladeshis, a group which had no love, affection and bondage with the State.

Gohain said that the Chief Minister should look into the role and efficiency of the forest minister.