Five hardcore poachers bbed, rhino horn seized

Operation in Biswath district

FROM A CORRESPONDENT

Tezpur, July 24: Assam Police on Sunday arrested five rhino poachers in two separate operations in Biswath district of central Assam, recovering a rhino horn from the poachers just as they were preparing to sell it, police sources said. Four rhino poachers were arrested on Sunday morning from Gohpur under Biswath district along with a horn weighing 650 gm. Police identified them as Sukur Ali, Sehar Ali, Momin Ali and Babul Ali. They were filizing the deal at Rs 50 lakh. Gohpur is about 140 km from Tezpur.

Ankur Jain, Superintendent of Police, Biswath district, said the poachers were arrested in a secret operation by the Gohpur police over the last two days. The seized horn has been valued at Rs 1.5 crore in intertiol market. Jain further said that another poacher was arrested from a remote area under Sootea police station on Sunday.

Police have launched operations against rhino poachers since the last few months and a large number of hardcore poachers have been arrested in different places of the district. In a massive anti-poaching drive carried out by Biswath Chariali police during the last two months, around 25 poachers have been arrested from different places in the district. Various arms and ammunition have also been seized. 

The police has been extensively working against rhino poachers from Sootea in Gingia PS area, Jain added.