Kaziranga (Assam): A rhino poacher was killed in an encounter with forest security personnel in the Kaziranga National Park on Wednesday, taking the number of poachers killed this year there to 25.
On a tip-off about the entry of a seven-member gang of poachers from the north western side of the Park, personnel of the Special Task Force and KNP forest guards cordoned off the area in the early hours and launched a search operation, KNP Forest Conservator M N Duwara told the reporters of the sources on Thursday.
When the illegal animal hunters came face to face with the forest security men near Borbhog camp in Burapahar Range of the Park, the poachers fired upon the security personnel and an encounter ensued for about an hour whereby one of the poachers was killed, KNP Forest Conservator M N Duwara said.
The rest of the trespassers fled away while firing at the security personnel, he said.
A rifle was recovered from the slain poacher who is yet to be identified, he said.
The Burapahar Range has the highest concentration of the Great One-horn Indian Rhinocerous.
Nine of the total one-horned Indian Rhinocerous have been killed by poachers in the park this year, Duwara said. In another incident, two poachers were arrested in Jorhat on Thursday. (PTI)
