Female pachyderm dies in crossfire in Tinsukia

OUR CORRESPONDENT

TINSUKIA: A female logging elephant of 14 years old died in a crossfire after firing erupted between timber smuggler of Arunachal Pradesh and a forest patrolling team of Dihing Patkai National Park (DPNP) near Hukanjuri Forest beat under Jeypore range on Monday night, the carcass of which was sighted on Tuesday morning.

According to reports, a patrolling team heard sound of wood cutting by saw machine inside the park. As they approached nearer, the timber smuggler opened fire to which the forest officials retaliated. The exchange of fire continued for an hour. Though there was no casualty from forest side, an elephant died to bullet injury. The forest officials after examining the carcass and position of injury maintained that the elephant was hit by the bullet fired by Arunachalee timber smuggler.

The area covering around 110 hectare of the National Park has been encroached by the people of Arunachal Pradesh where timber smugglers are very active and easily trespass into park area without any hindrance taking the advantage of unmanned Hukanjuri Forest Beat even as an exclusive Protection Range exists close to DFO's office Dibrugarh, the services of which are hardly sought, alleged an environmentalist.

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