By IANS,
Guwahati : Two poachers were gunned down during a joint operation by forest officials and elite commandos of the Assam Forest Protection Force (AFPF) inside the Kaziranga National Park early Wednesday, an official said.
“There was heavy exchange of fire between the poachers and the security forces at the eastern range of the park – Agaratoli range,” said director of the park N.K. Vasu, adding that the operation was launched around 5.45 a.m.
A .303 rifle, an axe and some ammunition were recovered from near the body of the slain poachers, who are yet to be identified, Vasu said.
Since last year, poaching incidents have increased in the Kaziranga National Park, which has the highest density of one-horned rhinos in the world.
While the poachers killed over 12 rhinos in Kaziranga and other protected areas of the state last year, a total of 10 rhinos have already been hunted down in the state this year.
The Assam government had last year announced creation of the elite AFPF to deal with the rise in poaching incidents. The government had also armed the AFPF with automatic weapons like AK-47 rifles to match the firepower of the poachers.
While there are 370 commandos of the AFPF in the park, besides other forest guards and officers, some more AFPF personnel are likely to be deployed in the park soon.