Three poachers in STF net

Horn of female rhino killed in Orang seized, carbine seized from forest guard's brother

From Our Correspondent

MANGALDAI, July 4: The Special Task Force (STF) have recovered the horn that was taken away by poachers after killing a full grown female rhino in Orang tiol Park (ONP) on the evening of June 27 last.

The STF also arrested three hardcore poachers and recovered a sophisticated carbine along with ammunition.

The rhino was killed on June 27, but the carcass was found on June 30.

Swinging into action, the STF arrested Saiful Islam, Moksedul Islam and Dilowar Hussain of Bejimari area adjacent to Orang while they were taking shelter in Dolabari area near Tezpur town on July 1. The arrest of the notorious poachers led the STF to the recovery of the sophisticated automatic carbine used in the poaching and ammunition from the house of Saiful Islam.

Significantly, Saiful Islam's brother Mahar Ali is a permanent worker of ONP and they live in the same campus.

On the basis of the confession made by the arrested trio, the STF followed absconding poacher Rafiqul Islam, also a Congress worker, of Bejimari area who tried to sell the horn in Chekoni area in gaon district and arrested Islam's wife. This led to recovery of the rhino horn from a villager's house they had been taking shelter in Juria area in gaon district. However, Rafiqul maged to evade the STF dragnet.