GUWAHATI:
In a bid to curb poaching in the Kaziranga National Park (KNP), Assam government will deploy commando force as part of anti-poaching operations at the UNESCO’s World Heritage Site.
Informing this on January 24, special director general of police (law and order) GP Singh said that the commando force will be headed by an additional superintendent of police.
“A commando force will be formed to intensify security in the north and south side of the National Park,” Singh said, adding that drones will be also used in security operations to keep an eye on poaching activities.
He further disclosed that satellite phones will also be given to the forest guards for better communication and coordination during anti-poaching operations.
Singh, who is also the chairman of Assam Rhino Protection Task Force (ARPTF), reviewed ongoing anti-poaching operations at the national park on January 22 and 23, and directed the ARPTF personnel to be vigilant.
These deployments by the Assam government to man the park comes after poachers killed a female rhino and took away its horn at the Hilekhonda camp of the park on January 20. This was the first case of rhino poaching reported in the park this year.
Last year, the Assam government had formed the Anti-Poaching Task Force to curb rhino poaching in the Park.