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Poachers kill rhinoceros, forest guard in Assam

by IBNS 30 Dec 2014, 10:25 pm

Sonitpur, Dec 31 (IBNS): A rhinoceros was allegedly shot dead by poachers at a national park in Assams Sonitpur district early on Wednesday morning, media reports said.

A forest guard was also killed in the firing. An Mk 1 .303 rifle, one pistol and cartridges have also been recovered from the spot.

Sources said the incident took place at 2.45 am at the Rajiv Gandhi National Park in Orang – located about 100 metres away from a watch tower on the fringes of the park.

The poachers allegedly killed the female pachyderm and took away its horn.

The guards at the watch tower fired at the poachers. A member of the Assam Home Guard, Sushil Seal, was killed in the crossfire.

Reports said that poachers killed and de-horned nearly 200 rhinos over the past 13 years with as many as 20 rhino poaching incidents reported in this year only.