Poacher killed in gunfight in Kiling Pahar, rifle and live bullets recovered

From a Correspondent

GAON (HAIBORGAON), Feb 14: In an open gunfight between police, STF and a gang of poachers in the wee hours of Monday in Kiling Pahar at gaon- Karbi-Anglong border, a poacher was killed and two others sustained bullet injury.

Three poachers of the gang, including the two bullet-injured poachers, maged to flee taking advantage of the darkness of the dense forest. But police and other forces recovered a 303 rifle, some live bullets and other objectioble documents from the spot. According to the sources, the deceased poacher was yet to be identified till filing of the report.

The sources added that the STF had an intelligence input about the gang of poacher who was taking shelter in a camp at Kiling Pahar near gaon- Karbi-Anglong border and acting on that input, the police of Rongbong Way police station and STF personnel launched a search operation at the exact location. But when the security personnel reached near the camp, the gang of poachers fired indiscrimitely and the security forces also responded with bullets. As a consequence, a poacher of the gang was killed on spot and two others of the gang sustained bullet injury. But after sustaining bullet injury, both poachers along with another poacher, maged to escape from the spot. The security forces are still searching for the poachers in the dense forest, sources added further.

On the other hand, the police of Jakhalabandha police station on Monday night apprehended a poacher from Biswath Chariali. According to sources, the bbed poacher has been identified as Suleman Ali and on the basis of his statement; police also recovered the skeleton of a rhino from Batsubali Char under the sixth schedule of Kaziranga tiol Park. According to the sources of police, Suleman Ali poached the matured rhino four-five months ago and he along with three others sold the horn in Dimapur at Rs 80 lakh per kg. Interestingly, the weight of the horn was 1.300 kg.