Jayanthi Natarajan Orders Probe into Kaziranga Rhino Poaching

New Delhi: The Minister for Environment and Forests, Jayanthi Natarajan has ordered that an immediate investigation be conducted into this incident by a team from the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau. She has desired that the investigation should be completed within one week, and the perpetrators brought to justice. The Minister has also written to Assam Chief Minister Shri Tarun Gogoi asking for all assistance in this regard and to prevent future incidents.

The Minister said “I am shocked and distressed by the callous exploitation by unscrupulous poachers of the natural disaster of floods and of helpless animals fleeing to find safe shelter. I am determined to ensure that these criminals are brought to justice and that such incidents do not recur in future”.

In view of the reports of poaching of rhino horn as a result of poachers targeting rhinos fleeing the flooded areas of Kaziranga National Park requiring immediate action, the Ministry of Environment & Forests has constituted a team of officers to inquire into the reported killings of Rhinos by poachers in Assam. The team consists of Shri C. Behra, Regional Deputy Director, Eastern Region, Kolkata; Shri A.K. Jha, Assistant Director (Intelligence), BHQ, Delhi; Shri L. Kuruvilla, Assistant Director, SR, Chennai; and Shri K.K. Sarma, Wildlife Inspector, NR, Delhi.

The team will immediately reach the spot to start investigations. The team will also seek assistance from the local agencies in detailed investigation of the case and conduct inter-agency coordination to trace the culprits and bust the networks involved.