Kaziranga (Assam) [India], May 29 (HBTV): An armed poacher was killed in a gunfight with security personnel in Assam's Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve, according to an official statement released by the park authorities.

Forest staff and police recovered one AK-56 rifle, 10 rounds of live ammunition, one .303 rifle with three rounds of live ammunition, a bag containing an axe, food items, and a torch from the encounter site.

Sonali Ghosh, Field Director of Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve, stated that on the night of May 28, around 8 p.m., the Range Officer of the Eastern Range (Agaratoli) received credible information regarding an armed attack by unidentified poachers on frontline staff stationed at Balidubi Camp inside the park.

‘All forest camps were immediately placed on high alert, and additional security teams were swiftly deployed to the area. The forest department and local police initiated a joint search operation. At around 10:30 p.m., as the joint team reached the Dhanbari area, they detected suspicious movement consistent with the presence of armed individuals. The team issued a warning, instructing the suspects to stop and identify themselves. In response, the armed poachers opened fire on the security personnel,’ Ghosh said.

Exercising restraint, the joint team returned controlled fire in self-defence. The exchange of fire continued for about 30 minutes. Once the area was secure, a thorough search led to the discovery of an unidentified, injured armed individual in possession of an AK-56 rifle and 11 rounds of live ammunition. A .303 rifle with three live rounds, an axe, food items, and a torch were also recovered from the site.

The injured individual was transported to Swahid Kamala Miri Civil Hospital in Bokakhat, where he was declared brought dead by the attending medical officer.

‘A comprehensive search operation is ongoing to apprehend the remaining suspects involved in the incident. The Forest Department and Police remain committed to ensuring the safety of Kaziranga National Park and its personnel,’ Ghosh added.

Earlier, on May 21, another armed poacher was neutralised in the Duramari area of Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve, and a .303 rifle, one handbag, and an axe were recovered from the scene.

(ANI)