poachers
The arrested trio. Image Credit - Northeast Now

Two โ€œon the prowlโ€ poachers and a sharpshooter were arrested in a joint operation by Darrang Police and staff of Orang National Park and Tiger Reserve.

Darrang SP Amrit Bhuyan informed that the two poachers belonged to an โ€œorganised, armed gang of poachersโ€.

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The arrested poachers โ€“ Shamsher Ali and Moruz Ali โ€“ confessed before police that they had โ€œhiredโ€ a deserter of 12 Assam Rifles Sagar Singha (read the third person arrested) to help them kill rhinos.

Also Read: DNA profiling of rhinos in Manas, Pobitora underway to tackle poachers

The poachers further told police that Singha is a sharpshooter and he came all the way from Arunachal Pradesh.

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The two arrested poachers โ€“ Shamsher and Moruz โ€“ provided Singha with arms and ammunitions and accompanied him as a โ€œlocal guideโ€. Both the poachers belong to Dhekiajuli in Sonitpur district of Assam.

โ€œThe Alis know the ABC of the park. They were nabbed when they were all about to sneak into Orang National Park through Silbori area with the intent of poaching,โ€ the police chief further stated.

A .303 rifle, a silencer, a huge knife and 11 rounds of ammunition were recovered from their possession.

Mayukh Goswami is Northeast Now Correspondent in Mangaldai. He can be reached at: [email protected]