Guwahati, 14th August: In a dramatic turn of events, a raid conducted by the Special Task Force (STF) at the India-Bhutan border in Assam’s Chirang district took a tragic turn on Monday morning. The operation was aimed at apprehending individuals involved in rhino poaching, but it resulted in the death of one of the arrested poachers.
During the raid, one of the arrested rhino poachers, identified as Nareswar Basumatary, attempted to escape from custody, leading to an exchange of gunfire. Tragically, Basumatary lost his life in the incident.
As a result of a cooperative effort by the Chirang Forest Department and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, the operation had at first resulted in the arrest of three rhino poachers, Nareswar Basumatary, Biran Narzary, and Bahadur Magar. The people who were detained admitted to taking part in the poaching of two rhinoceros in Manas National Park.
Upon their arrest, authorities seized incriminating items from their possession, including a handmade gun, gunpowder, bullets, and rhino nails.
The incident highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in tackling wildlife crimes and preserving the region’s precious biodiversity.