Guwahati, Aug 14: A poacher was killed in an encounter with police in Assam’s Chirang district on Sunday.
The deceased poacher has been identified as Noweswar Basumatary.
“Yesterday, we nabbed Noweswar Basumatary along with two other rhino poachers.” After interogation, Noweswar Basumatary revealed about guns that he kept somewhere inside Manas National Park. A team of police and foresters went to search for the guns that were used to kill rhinos. Noweswar Basumatary suddenly attacked a policeman with dao (machet), which was kept in front of a tree. In self-defence, the police team fired at him. He sustained a bullet injury. Later, Noweswar Basumatary was declared dead by the doctors,” said a police official.
He said, “A seven member gang of rhino poachers camp inside the Manas National Park during April. They stayed for six days inside the park and killed a rhino. They have sold the rhino horn”.
In a joint operation conducted by the Forest Department of Assam’s Chirang district and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), three poachers from the India-Bhutan border were arrested on August 12.
The incident took place at Jalukani under Amguri police station on the Bhutan border in the Chirang district.
The arrested poachers have been identified as Biren Narzary, Noweswar Basumatary, and Nal Bahadur Magar. The three arrested poachers hail from Chirang’s Jaipur Malibhita.
Rhino hooves, skin, a handmade pistol, and bullets were seized from their possession.
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