GUWAHATI, Feb 17 - That delay in assess to call detail records (CDR) and PTL (present tower location) had been hampering investigations into the poaching cases came to fore yet again after the first instance of rhino killing in Kaziranga this year.
Forest officials investigating the poaching case at Agoratoli on the night of February 15 had called for CDR and PTL of some suspects at around 5 am in the morning yesterday. But sources said it was made available only at around 10 am, leading to a loss of five vital hours.
Later, although five suspects � four in Biswanath and one in Bokakhat � were apprehended in the case, the horn is yet to be recovered.
The gaps in intelligence sharing figured at a security review meeting held at Kohora last evening which was attended by top officials from Forest and police department.
The Forest department made a fresh request to the police for sharing intelligence on real time basis. �The PTL and CDR information of suspects will be shared with the Director of Kaziranga National Park,� the minutes of the meeting, which was chaired by Head of Forest Force AM Singh in presence of Chief Wildlife Warden Dr Ranjana Gupta and ADGP (STF) YK Gautam, stated.
More than a year ago, the Forest department had written to the State government, seeking powers to the Forest officers to call for CDRs (call detail records) and intercept calls, contending that it would add teeth to the capacity of investigators. But the government is not yet responded so far.
In some states like Karnataka and Uttarakhand, Forest officers are empowered seek call records and intercept calls, which is a major tool for investigation and tracking criminals.
The security review meeting also decided to reorganize the field staff at Kaziranga. The DFO will prepare a list of home guards who are efficient in anti-poaching duties inside protected areas. Steps will be initiated to deploy these men in protected areas, even if on rotational basis.
A decision was also taken to make available the night vision equipments to the DFOs of rhino bearing areas. Presently, the equipments are with the commandants of the Assam Forest Protection Force Battalions.
Further, the forest department has also decided to build walls for its armoury building at Seconee.
