Two rhino poachers killed in KNP

From a Correspondent

GAON, April 11: Two rhino poachers were killed in a gun battle between poachers and police -forest guards in Kaziranga tiol Park (KNP) near Burhapahar on Saturday morning around 3.45 am. Two other poachers maged to escape from the spot.

Sources said that police and forest officials had information about a group of poachers who had maged to take shelter near Burhapahar area. Police and forest guards jointly launched an operation. But when they reached close to the Chak forest reserve under Burhapahar forest range of Kaziranga tiol Park, an encounter took place in which two poachers were killed and two other poachers maged to escape from the spot.

The local police recovered the bodies of the poachers and one 303 rifle, one silencer and ammunition were recovered too from the spot. According to the sources, the poachers have not been identified yet. However, State Forest Minister Etuwa Munda was there in KNP when the gun battle took place. He had come after a female rhino was killed by poachers on Friday near Kanhara range of the park and led the forest guards and security forces against the poachers on Friday night in another part of the tiol park.