Two suspected poachers killed in Assam wildlife sanctuary

Forest guards in Assam's Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary shoot down two suspected poachers, highlighting ongoing conservation efforts in the region.

GUWAHATI

Forest guards in central Assam’s Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary gunned down two suspected poachers during the early hours of Saturday.

The 70.13 sq. km. area of Laokhowa in Nagaon district is a part of the greater Kaziranga landscape.

Jayanta Deka, divisional forest officer of Assam Forest department’s Nagaon Division, said the incident happened between 1 a.m. and 1.30 a.m. after the forest guards spotted a group of 20 people in Charaihagi forest camp area of the sanctuary.

“They were apparently fishing in Rowmari Beel (wetland), which is illegal in a protected area. Our patrolling team became suspicious of their motive because of a small population of rhinos in the vicinity,” he said.

“The men attacked our guards with machete and other weapons after they were threatened with action for unauthorised entry past midnight and were asked to leave. The guards had to shoot in self-defence,” Mr Deka said.

Two of the alleged poachers sustained grievous injuries while the others fled. The two were taken to a local government hospital where the doctors declared them dead, he said.