Newmai News Network
GUWAHATI, Jan 15: A man from Churchandpur district of Manipur was nabbed by Assam forest guards from Assam State Zoo cum Botanical Garden in Guwahati today for attempting to poach in the zoo.
According to divisional forest officer (DFO) Utpal Bora, the poacher identified as one Chinkhansong (55) was arrested inside the Assam State Zoo cum Botanical Garden by the forest guards on Sunday morning. The poacher was nabbed along with a .303 rifle, six live cartridges, a machete and an axe. The forest officer said that during interrogation Chinkhansong said he had sneaked into the zoo to kill a rhino and then take its horn.
Utpal Bora said that this morning, one of the forest guards saw Chinkhansong loitering about in a suspicious manner near the one-horned rhino enclosure. Without wasting much time the forest guards arrested the poacher and handed over to the police.
The forest officer said, “During the interrogation the poacher disclosed that he had crossed over the boundary wall last evening hoping that Sunday would be a holiday for zoo officials and guards in view of Magh Bihu.” Chinkhansong had also confessed during the interrogation that he was a member of an organized gang engaged in poaching.
Principal chief conservator of forest Suresh Chand said that Chinkhansong came to Guwahati on January 13 and was staying in a hotel in Guwahati.