JORHAT: Two forest guards sustained critical injuries during an encounter with poachers inside Kaziranga National Park, about 250 km from here, on Sunday evening.
The duo was rushed to Jakhalabandha Civil Hospital in Nagaon district. On Monday, they were shifted to Guwahati Medical College Hospital (GMCH). The injured have been identified as Rekib Ahmed and Biplob Hazarika.
"Rekib and Biplob sustained bullet injuries when a group of poachers attacked them last night. They are undergoing treatment at GMCH and hospital authorities said they are out of danger," said Kaziranga divisional forest officer S K Shil Sharma.
The encounter took place in the Burapahar forest range when a four-member poachers' gang sneaked into the park to kill rhino around 9.30 pm.
"On receiving the information about the presence of poachers, a group of forest guards launched an operation inside the forest range. But when the guards reached near the Kothalchung anti-poaching camp, the poachers, armed with AK 47 rifles, fired at us. Our guards also retaliated but the poachers managed to flee from the spot by taking advantage of darkness," said a park official.
The official added that the poachers could not kill any rhino in the park as no carcass was found.
On the other hand, a forest guard of the newly raised Assam Forest Protection Force was feared drowned in Difolu river inside park when he went to take a bath. The guard has been is identified as Dibyajyoti Bordoloi. He was a resident of Nagaon. Park authorities said the missing forest personnel was posted at the Difolu anti-poaching camp. "He went out to take a bath in the river and did not return. We believe he got drowned. But his body is yet to be found," said Shil Sharma.
