Assam: Armed Poacher Nabbed with Boar Meat at Behali Wildlife Sanctuary

A CORRESPONDENT

BISWANATH CHARIALI: In a significant breakthrough against wildlife crimes, forest personnel from Dikal Forest Protection Camp, led by Mukesh Pegu, Fr-I, under Borgang Range, Sonitpur East Division, successfully nabbed an armed poacher inside Behali Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS) during a routine patrol operation late on Friday evening.

Acting on prior intelligence inputs regarding poaching activity in the area, a patrolling team ventured deep into the sanctuary and detected suspicious movement and laid a strategic ambush. A suspected poacher, upon noticing the presence of forest personnel, cocked a .22 LR rifle and assumed a firing position. In a swift response, the patrolling team blank-fired two rounds to neutralize the threat.

The accused, identified as Nabam Naga of Tarasso village in Papumpare district, Arunachal Pradesh, initially resisted arrest. A brief but intense physical confrontation ensued during which both the accused and forest staff fell into a nearby drain. Despite the struggle, the forest team succeeded in overpowering him and seizing the firearm.

Items recovered from his possession include one .22 Deluxe Rifle with magazine, three live rounds of .22 LR ammunition and approximately 15 kilograms of freshly-cut wild boar meat.

Following the arrest, the accused was brought to the Borgang Range Office, where a necessary medical examination was conducted. Based on substantial evidence and confession, he was later handed over to Borgang Police Outpost.

This incident follows a similar operation earlier this year on January 20, when another poacher from the same village was caught inside the sanctuary with a firearm and deer carcass. That arrest, too, highlighted the persistent threat of wildlife crimes in this critical conservation area.

Behali Wildlife Sanctuary (Proposed), a biodiversity hotspot rich in endemic flora and fauna, has remained under constant threat from illegal hunting and encroachments. However, the Sonitpur East Forest Division under the Assam Forest Department has ramped up its vigilance through intensified patrolling, community engagement, and intelligence-driven field operations. The division has been proactively cracking down on offenders, demonstrating a zero-tolerance stance towards poaching and other forest-related illegalities.

Speaking on the incident, a senior official from the division remarked, “This successful interception is a testament to the courage and dedication of our frontline staff. We remain unwavering in our mission to protect Behali’s fragile ecosystem and ensure that such criminal acts are met with strict legal consequences.”

The department has also urged the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the nearest forest office, reiterating its commitment to preserving Assam’s invaluable wildlife heritage for future generations.

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