Forest officials to help cops probe wildlife crimes

By Our Staff Reporter

Guwahati, May 28: From now on, forest officials will assist the police in investigating wildlife crime cases. The move has been initiated to check the poor conviction rate in such cases. Top forest and police officials, including officials of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau recently met at Kaziranga tiol Park and brainstormed ways to check the rise in number of wildlife offences, particularly rhino poaching. The meeting laid stress on coordition between forest and police personnel in dealing with the problem.

"We also discussed the need to enhance inter-state coordition between Assam, galand and Manipur. Various ideas were discussed which will be implemented gradually," DIG (Central range) Akhilesh Singh said.

He said there were certain gaps in the investigation procedures which result in acquittal of offenders in the court of law.

"Police cannot investigate certain angles. Therefore we decided that forest officials will now assist police in investigation of such crimes so that the cases put up before court are strong enough for conviction," Singh said.