'Most wanted' rhino poacher arrested in Assam's Biswanath

Guwahati: A most-wanted rhino poacher was apprehended on Tuesday in Assam's Biswanath district in a joint operation by Biswanath Police and the Crime Investigation Range staff of Wildlife division.

The poacher, identified as Ratul Das alias Gunda, was absconding since 2019.

Based on intelligence input, police and the Crime Investigation Range staff of Wildlife division of Biswanath jointly launched an operation at the Rangsali Sonari village area under Behali police station on Tuesday and arrested the accused.

During interrogation, the accused confessed that he had concealed one rifle by burying it in his house, which was later recovered by police.

Police officials recovered one 303 rifle with a magazine, one silencer, and also seized a boat.

As per reports, the joint operation was headed by Muzaffar Hussain; Deputy Superintendent of Police, Biswanath. The seized arms and arms and ammunition were buried in the kitchen of Ratul's house which was recovered by police.

As stated by DSP Hussain the seized arms were used in a case of rhino poaching in 2019 at Dokhota under the Kohora range in Kaziranga National Park and the boat was also used in the crime.

According to Biswanath Police, they crossed the Brahmaputra and used the guns for poaching one-horned rhinos inside KNP.

The official also said that the owner of the boat is now absconding and a search operation is underway to nab him and other members of the poacher gang..

Notably, another accused in the same case, Babul Das, was also apprehended under the Arms Act and is presently out on bail.

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