Forest guards, cops foil poaching attempt in Assam

Guwahati, June 1 (IANS) A joint team of police and forest guards late Thursday night foiled an attempt by poachers to kill one-horned rhinos in Assam's Pabitora wildlife sanctuary, forest officials said.

Three poachers, including two from neighbouring Nagaland and a local youth, were apprehended in the operation, which continued till Friday morning.

One 303 rifle and ten live bullets were recovered from their possession, the officials said.

According to the rhino census conducted in April this year, there are 93 rhinos in the Pabitora wildlife sanctuary in Morigaon district of Assam - located about 30 km from Assam's main city Guwahati.

"We received information last evening (Thursday evening) that a poachers' gang would enter the wildlife sanctuary for poaching rhino," said Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the wildlife sanctuary Mukul Tamuli adding that all the three poachers were apprehended in association with the local police.