CBI probe ordered into attacks on rhinos
PTI
A forest official stands near the body of a one-horned Rhinoceros that
was killed and de-horned by the poachers near Kaziranga National Park on
Thursday.
Army to be deployed in Karbi Anglong hills; Centre takes serious view of situation
Two more rhinoceroses were shot at by poachers in the Kaziranga National
Park on Thursday in two separate incidents. These took place in Karbi
Anglong district, one near Kuthori around 4.15 a.m. and the other around
12.30 p.m. in the Jagadamba tea estate. The poachers took away the
horns of the rhinos.
In the first incident the rhino was found dead, while in the second, the
victim was found battling for life, bleeding and writhing in pain. Both
mammals had strayed out of flooded areas of the national park, which is
also a World Heritage Site, and were moving in the foothills outside
the notified area of the park.
Following these two incidents, which occurred a day after poachers shot
at a female rhino and made off with its horn, the Assam government
ordered a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into all
incidents of rhino poaching in the State in the last three years. The
government has also decided to deploy the Army in the hills of Karbi
Anglong adjacent to the Kaziranga National Park areas, as it suspects
militants could also be involved in poaching.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi ordered the CBI probe and announced a cash
award of Rs. 5-lakh to anyone who gave information on poachers.
Environment and Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain said a team of
veterinary and wildlife experts was attending on the two injured rhinos.
Among other measures aimed at curbing poaching were elevation of the
post of director of the Kaziranga National Park to Chief Conservator of
Forest (CCF) rank from the existing rank of Conservator. N.K. Vasu, an
IFS officer, was appointed new director of the park. He earlier served
as director of the park when he was a conservator.
The Minister said the strength of the front line staff in the park had
now increased to 562; 11 sections of the Assam Forest Protection Force
(AFPF) are now deployed there. Besides, 34 new appointments in Forester
grade I and 64 forest guards will take place soon. The Environment and
Forests Department is also procuring 200 SLRs as part of its plans to
equip the AFPF personnel with modern and sophisticated weapons.
Since January, 15 poachers have been apprehended. In 2011, three
poachers were killed in an encounter with forest guards, while nine
others were arrested and five weapons seized. In 2010, nine poachers
were killed and 15 arrested.
Meanwhile, a protest rally was taken up by activists and supporters of
the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and several other organisations in
Kaziranga and other places. They demanded the resignation of Mr. Hussain
for failing to protect the rhinos.
Priscilla Jebaraj reports from New Delhi:
Union Minister of State for Environment and Forests Jayanthi Natarajan
has ordered an immediate investigation by a team of the Wildlife Crime
Control Bureau into the incidents of poaching of rhinos which are
fleeing the flooded areas of Kaziranga. She said the investigation
should be completed in a week, and the perpetrators brought to justice.
Ms. Natarajan has also written to Mr. Gogoi seeking all assistance in
this regard and to prevent future incidents.
The team comprises C. Behra, Regional Deputy Director, Eastern Region,
Kolkata; A.K. Jha, Assistant Director (Intelligence), BHO, Delhi; L.
Kuruvilla, Assistant Director, Southern Region, Chennai; and K.K. Sarma,
Wildlife Inspector, Northern Region, Delhi.
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