GUWAHATI, DEC 16: The Assam police arrested the “most wanted” rhino poacher in Assam’s Darrang district.
The “most wanted” rhino poacher, identified as Abdul Matin, was arrested by the Assam police after almost a year of search.
The development was confirmed by special DG of Assam police – GP Singh.
Singh said that Abdul Matin is one of the main accused responsible for poaching of a rhino in Kaziranga National Park in Assam in January.
The police had declared a reward of Rs 2 lakh for information leading to the arrest of Matin and two others.
Following the poaching incident in January, Assam police commandos were deployed in the Kaziranga National Park as a part of the anti-poaching unit.
In 2021, the state government formed the Anti-Poaching Task Force (APTF) to keep a check on rhino poaching in Kaziranga National Park.
According to government figures, Rhino poaching in Assam was at its peak in 2013 and 2014 – 27 rhinos were killed in each of the two years. Between 2000 and 2015, a total of 153 rhinos were poached in the state.
Meanwhile, the state government has taken all slew of mesaures to protect the one horn rhino from poachers.
“We have taking all possible measures to curb the rhino poaching in Kaziranga National park. Anti-poaching task force was formed to check rhino poaching and the force has been doing a good job in the Kaziranga National Par k,” said an forest official.