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Poachers have adopted new tactics: Brahma

By Mayukh Goswami

ORANG, June 23 - State Forest Minister Pramila Rani Brahma has admitted apathy of the government towards the Orang National Park and Tiger Reserve regarding necessary security measures for rhino and other wildlife in the park in comparison to the Kaziranga National Park.

The minister on Thursday night visited the Orang National Park following the poaching of a male rhino and chopping of its horn earlier on the day from the Guspara forest camp area of the park.

Talking to The Assam Tribune at the Saatsimalu forest camp campus, the minister observed that due to this apathy poachers were able to kill a rhino and cut away its horn in broad daylight.

�I thought Orang is well

secured and I gave more importance to Kaziranga than Orang. But I have been proved wrong,� lamented Brahma with a clear indication of frustration and helplessness on her appearance.

She also held the field officers of the park responsible for the dastardly killing of the rhino. � Definitely there are lapses on the part of our field officers. They must carry out routine check-up in the camps and monitor the duties of the forest guards. If these were carried out properly, such incidents of rhino poaching could have been averted,� she said.

Regarding arrest of a constable of the Assam Forest Protection Force (AFPF) engaged in the park in connection with the recent incidents of poaching, the minister said people often expressed doubt about involvement of �persons within our organization�.

�But we could not identify them. This time one has been identified. This may be some new tactics of the poachers to destabilize the internal security. We must look into it seriously,� she said.

Earlier, the minister in the presence of higher forest officials from Guwahati, besides Darrang Deputy Commissioner Ashok Kr Barman, Darrang Superintendent of Police Sreejith Thiraviam and Mangaldai Wildlife Division DFO Sunnydeo Choudhary reviewed the security scenario of the park.

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