Park Director NK Vasu said that the two poachers were killed during an encounter in the eastern side of the park —in Agaratoli forest division.

“Based on a tip-off that some poachers have infiltrated into the park, the forest guards launched an operation on Wednesday morning around 5.45 am. The poachers fired at the guards forcing the latter to retaliate and in the ensuing gun-battle, two poachers were killed,” Vasu said.

“One .303 rifle, an axe and some ammunition were also recovered from the slain poachers,” he said.

Vasu, however, said that the poachers were yet to be identified.

The KNP is in news for last few months due to sudden spate in the poaching of one-horned rhinos in the park and its adjoining forest areas.

While last year the poachers have killed 12 rhinos in and around the park, over 10 one-horned rhinos have been killed by poachers since January this year in various protected areas of Assam.

The Assam Government had earlier this year created an elite force — Assam Forest Protection Force (AFPF) and armed it with SLRs to deal with the poachers. At present, there are over 370 AFPF commandos in KNP and some more are likely to be deployed in the park soon.

The Assam Forest Department had also been constructing electronic eye towers inside the park for better monitoring of its wildlife and is awaiting a unmanned helicopter by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests for aerial surveillance of the park.