DALGAON, May 22 – In a major breakthrough, the forest officials of the Orang National Park gunned down one suspected rhino poacher and arrested another in the wee hours of May 21 last.
According to the National Park sources, in a routine patrolling by the forest officials of the Kachmari camp, in the early morning of May 21, a gang of poachers were intercepted near the Hathi camp well within the western part of the park. The poachers immediately started firing at the forest officials and the forest guards also fired in retaliation killing one poacher on the spot while another was arrested.
The slain poacher has been identified as Ramesar Basumatary (35) of Jhakuapara villag eunder Dalgaon PS. The arrested Chandan Basumatary (19) also belongs to the same village. The forest officials recovered two live cartidges of 303 rifles from their possession.
Meanwhile talking to this correspondent Sukumar Momin, DFO Wildlife, Darrang division informed that they are on the hunt for the other two accomplices of the gang Gopal Boro and Diney Boro, both from the Kopati Khaguabil area as their involvement in poaching was established from the statement of arrested Chandan Basumatary.
