A carcass of rhino without horn was recovered today at Ganai Ati in 6th Addition of Kaziranga National Park ( Northern Range) under Gohpur Police station of Sonitpur district. According to forest official sources the rhino was killed by the poachers in the morning on Friday, February 27, 2015 and took away the horn.

The rhino was a full ground male was rooming in the waken area in Gohpur sub division bank of the river Brahmaputra last two days and the forest officials have been monitoring. This is the first incident in Gohpur sub division after long time back and also in this year.

Sivasis Das, Divisional Forest Officer East division of forest Biswanath Chariali who also searching the poachers and started a combing operation this evening. While talking to this correspondent from the spot – said that the rhino was killed by the poachers today morning at around 7.30 to 8 am and shot dead after two bullet injured and chopped its horn. He also said the bluet which was found in the rhino body SLR rifle which was used by the poachers.

Meanwhile, the Assam Forest Minister, Atowa Munda who has been stationed in KNP confirmed that the rhino was killed by the poachers. After the incident the forest minster ordered to suspend the ranger of Northen Range, Sixth Addition of Kaziranga National Park, Puspadhar Boragohain, with immediate affect forest sources informed.

This was first step taken by the State forest minister after killing a rhino in the state. The combing operation along with Assam Police personnel’s have been going on near the forest area and bank of the river Brahmaputra under Gohpur police station in Sonitpur district, Mr Das said.