With anti-rhino poaching operations going on in full swing in recent times, two persons, including the lecturer of a junior college, were arrested in Dhemaji district in the wee hours today for their alleged involvement in trading of rhino horn. Assam forest and environment minister Atuwa Munda today met top forest department officials at the Assembly complex in Dispur where the budget session is under way. Agriculture minister Rakibul Hussain, who had held the forest portfolio till a month back, also participated in the meeting. This is the second case of rhino poaching in Kaziranga since Munda assumed charge in January. The minister has ordered a departmental inquiry into the incident.

Burapahar range officer Jinaram Bordoloi told this correspondent that the killing took place around 11pm in an area close to the Brahmaputra under Sanak forest camp.

He said a group of about four poachers came from the north bank of the river - their footprints have been found on the sand - and shot dead the male rhino with a .303 rifle which had a silencer. The silencer and two used empty cartridges were recovered from the site. The park's sniffer dogs are being used as a part of the search operations, he added.

Dhemaji superintendent of police Moinul Islam Mondal said based on the interrogation of five people arrested at Gohpur under Biswanath police district two days back, Mridul Saikia, 45, and Lakhi Gogoi, 47, were arrested from Dhemaji district.

The SP said Saikia is a lecturer in the department of history at Machkhowa Junior College, Dhemaji. The two have been taken to Gohpur where they will be interrogated.

Munda told The Telegraph that he was "saddened and pained" by the killing. "It's unfortunate that despite our sincere efforts to stop poaching by increasing resources and holding discussions with various sections of the society, such an incident occurred," he said.

Munda said "vital information" on the network of poaching and its trade had emerged from the two persons arrested. Some links with neighbouring states have also come up, which will be followed upon.

He said during the meeting, they had decided to request the state home department to provide two more platoons of Assam police to the special task force (STF), headed by additional director-general of police A.P. Rout, to curb poaching.

He said home commissioner L.S. Changsan and additional chief secretary (home) M.G.V.K. Bhanu had promised to deploy the platoons at the earliest. At present the strength of the STF is about 100.

On governor P.B. Acharya recently expressing displeasure over poaching of rhinos and criticising the government over the issue, Munda said the government "very much" appreciates the concern and would take his advice in whatever possible manner to tackle the problem.

The minister said whatever report the governor has sought from the Kaziranga director, would be sent to him through proper official channel.

He hoped the governor would play an important role in bringing in financial support from the Centre to curb poaching and would facilitate army support for anti-poaching operations.

AGP legislator Padma Hazarika today expressed concern over the rise in rhino poaching in the state, while participating in the debate on the motion of thanks on the governor's address in the Assembly. He said a section of forest personnel were suspected to be involved.

Referring to the killing of a rhino in the sixth addition of Kaziranga on the north bank of the Brahmaputra in Sonitpur district on February 27, he claimed that people of that area had informed forest officials about the suspicious movement of some persons on motorcycles in the area.