Guwahati, Jan 6: The zero-rhino poaching that has been achieved in Assam in the year 2022 has been widely appreciated globally while the Prime Minister of the country has applauded the people of Assam as well as the state government for the feat that has been possible for the untiring efforts and sustained vigil maintained by the Rhino Protection Task Force (RPTF) formed by Assam government in June, 2021.
The Task Force comprising senior officials of state police and forest departments is headed by the state’s Special Director General of Police, G P Singh who has said that the zero rhino-poaching could be achieved only through meticulous and scientific planning and coordinated execution with cooperation of all stakeholders.
The anti-rhino poaching efforts which has resulted in zero poaching in the year 2022, has been appreciated at the highest level (PM level) of Indian Government, it has called for much greater efforts on part of the Task Force to maintain the rhino-poaching graph flat on years to come.
Aware of this reality, the Task Force, as disclosed by its chairman G P Singh, has chalked out a plan of action to maintain the zero rhino poaching goal. It is now planning to work in tandem with state police forces of other states and central agencies to keep criminals from across the region and across the frontier involved in rhino poaching in Assam.
“It’s a matter of great pride and privilege that our effort has been recognised at the highest level in the country. This also strives us to work harder. We need to keep the pressure on the poaching gangs. We have to ensure that the graph of poaching stays flat at nil for a few years, by when it would become a norm,” said the chairman of the Task Force.
“We need to now work on the receivers of rhino horns based in other states and across the border with help of other state police forces and central agencies.
The Special DG of Assam heading the Task Force informed that the zero rhino poaching in 2022 could be achieved because of a multi-pronged strategy adopted by the force to check rhino poaching in Assam across all rhino-bearing areas.
The multi-pronged strategy revolves around mapping the incidents of poaching in time and space ; collection of data about all past poachers and their present activities ; sensitising the stake holders especially villagers, forest villagers and those living in buffer zones of rhino habitats ; mapping of all boatmen ; coordination with police of other states especially Arunachal, Nagaland, Manipur and Kerala ; zero tolerance to poaching ; leveraging technology in the effort ; CCTV on entry/exit routes including night vision CCTV; setting up an efficient wireless network , movement sensors; analysis of cyber and mobile data ; coordinated approach between police and forest department ; extensive usage of drones and dog squads and deployment of armed commandos of police and forest personnel in core areas.
The Task Force chairman further informed that constant support and guidance of the Assam chief minister and the Union Minister Assam and Union Home Minister has been instrumental in achieving the goal of zero rhino poaching in the year that has gone by.
By Bijay Sankar Bora