The horn of a male rhino, which was found outside the park area, was missing, making the foresters suspect the involvement of a poaching gang.

The foresters said the carcasses of two other rhinos - a male and a female - were found inside the park area.

The male rhino, the foresters said, could have died of "infighting" - a tussle for supremacy between two rhinos.

The female was old and because they do not have horns, they are rarely the target of poachers.

Rhino horns are prized in some south Asian countries for their supposed healing properties.

A range officer was showcaused after the male rhino, whose horn was removed, was found yesterday.

According to a forest source, on Friday, two rhino carcasses were spotted by the patrolling staff at the Shishamara beat and Moiradanga beat office areas of Jaldapara National Park.

Yesterday morning, another rhino carcass was seen in the Kodal Basti-4 compartment area of Jaldapara. The body was decomposed and only the bones and skin of the animal were found. The foresters said that the animal might have died at least a week back.

Tapas Das, the conservator of forests wildlife north, said: "The bones and skin of a rhino has been spotted in the Kodal Basti area of the forest which means the rhino died few days earlier and its horn is missing. We have started an enquiry. But a female rhino in Moiradanga beat died a natural death as it was ill. The male rhino in Shishamara beat, died of infighting. We have showcaused Gopal Sarkar, the range officer of Kodal Basti range."

A rhino census was conducted in Jaldapara on January 21 and 22 but the survey had not reported a dead rhino.

A forest source, said: "Every year, during the rhino census , members of different organisations are included as part of the team but most of the people are more interested in clicking pictures of the forest, than counting the number of rhinos. The method has not been followed properly for the census. Otherwise, the rhino carcass would have been spotted."

Binoy Krishna Barman, the forest minister, said: "The incident is unfortunate and I have called for a detailed report. I have to first know the actual facts and only then will I decide what action has to be taken against whom. I have asked the forest officials to start tight patrolling in the National Park so that these kind of incidents are not repeated. The rhino samples have been sent to a laboratory for proper investigation."

Animesh Bose from Himalayan Nature and Adventure Foundation said: "The forest staff and police officials should work with local people and try to find out the accused, instead of playing a blame game. Otherwise, the national park which is internationally renowned for rhino conservation, would be in danger. More importantly, the foresters should build a good relationship with the villagers."

In In August last year, two rhinos were killed by poachers. One body was found in the Kodalbasti area of Jaldapara while the other was found in the fifty-fifty beat area of the national park.

One person was arrested and foresters had come to know that the rhino was killed by poachers from Assam.