Two Rhino Poachers Apprehended in Kaziranga

Kaziranga: Based on secret input, Bokakhat police apprehended two rhino poachers from Hiljuri area located near the Kaziranga National Park on Monday.

A Police team led by Officer in charge of Bokakhat Police Station, Deben Bora launched a secret operation at Hiljuri area and apprehended Binod Karmakar and Krishna Karmakar.

Police during their raid also recovered one 303 rifle, one magazine, 7 live ammunition, one silencer from their possession.

Police also informed that both Binod and Krishna were planning to hunt a rhino from the Kaziranga National Park(KNP).

It is to be noted that Krishna Karmakar hails from Bamun Gaon, Kuthori under Nagaon District and Binod Karmakar from Hiljuri near Kaziranga National Park.

Police also suspects the involvement of few more people in connection to Rhino Poaching in the area. The entire area has been cordoned, informed the police.

Earlier, a joint team of Arunachal Pradesh Police (APP) and Assam Forest, Eastern Range, Kaziranga National Park arrested one Rijen Pegu (30 years) for poaching of a rhinoceros and smuggling on Saturday.

Capital SP Tumme Ammo informed that a few mobile sets and various incriminating documents and records have been recovered from Pegu, who was later sent to Kaziranga National Park, Eastern Forest Range, Assam, on transit remand issued by the Court.

He said a joint team of Capital Police and Assam Forest, Eastern Range, Kaziranga National Park reacting to the Kaziranga National Park Case No ER/01 of 2019 nabbed Pegu for smuggling of rhino horn in the International market.“The Assam Forest team from the World Heritage Site, Kaziranga National Park approached me on Friday afternoon (June 14) and briefed about the case requesting me to help in the arrest of one Rijen Pegu,” he said, adding that a team was constituted led by Capital Police SI N Nishant and accordingly on the next day the joint team arrested Pegu.

Rijen Pegu is the son of Dilipou Pegu of Pulisomunigaon village, Gohpur district Assam and residing at Gandhi Market, Itanagar. The horns are reportedly sold for Rs 30 lakh.

The SP also disclosed that the involvement of a few local youths from the State also cannot be ruled out. He requested the youths not to involve themselves in such crimes but direct their efforts and energy for their furthering their career and in nation-building.

“The matter was not disclosed to media on Saturday as there was fear that some associates of the arrested person might attack the Assam Forest team on their way back to Kaziranga,” the SP added.

Assam Forest had appreciated the efforts of the Capital Police, and Arunachal Pradesh Police.

Also Read: Poacher Arrested, Rhino Horn Smuggling Racket Busted In Arunachal Pradesh