GUWAHATI, Oct 17 – Availability of a large market of rhino horns in China may be one of the main reasons for the sudden spurt of poaching of rhinos in the Kaziranga National Park and involvement of militants in poaching has also turned into a major cause of concern.

Highly placed security sources told The Assam Tribune that there is a large market for rhino horns in China and there are reasons to believe that most of the horns of the rhinos killed by poachers in recent times were sent to China. The rhino horns are bought mostly by clandestine dealers in Dimapur and from there those are sent to China through Myanmar.

Sources said that such clandestine dealers in Dimapur give Rs 40 to 50 lakh for each horn and it is still not confirmed whether the routes used for smuggling in weapons are used to smuggle out the rhino horns from Assam. Sources pointed out that in recent times, Dimapur has become a hub of the arms smugglers and different militant groups are procuring weapons from the clandestine dealers in Dimapur.

According to information available with the security agencies, the arms dealers procure weapons, most of which are made in China, from the dealers of such weapons in the South East Asian countries and bring the same to India through Myanmar. Most militant groups are procuring such weapons and Dimapur has become a hub for such deals. However, in the last few months, several persons were apprehended while transporting weapons from Dimapur.

Sources said that it is still not confirmed whether the same routes are used for transshipment of arms and rhino horns or whether the same persons are involved in both the illegal activities. But such a possibility cannot be ruled out.

Security sources said that the involvement of militant activist KPLT in poaching of rhinos has also become a matter of grave concern. Sources pointed out that earlier, kidnapping for ransom was the main source of income for the KPLT militants but as kidnapping is turning out to be a risky proposition, the militants are turning to rhino poaching by taking advantage of the fact that due to floods, a number of rhinos from Kaziranga are moving towards Karbi Anglong.

According to information available, the KPLT sold at least nine horns to the clandestine dealers in Dimapur within this year. Sources also said that other gangs of criminals as well as “immigrants” are also involved in poaching of rhinos. Though such gangs are on the job for years, the involvement of KPLT militants gave a new dimension to the problem of rhino poaching, sources added.