Aaranyak, one of the most prominent conservation group in the country has expressed its shock and deepest grievance at the recent incidences of poaching of four rhinos in the flood stricken Kaziranga National Park in just three days time. This is a massive setback to the efforts towards conservation and protection of this unique creature that finds an inherent place in the very heart of Assamese culture.
We strongly feel that the management of the Assam Forest Department has not been up to the task of protecting the rhinos, especially in conditions of flooding of the Park. This, we feel, can be ascribed to a complete lack of coordination between the Forest Department and the Karbi Anglong Autonomous District Council Forest Department, failure of intelligence gathering and appropriate action thereby, a lack of proactive action and commitment on the part of concerned officials of the Department and a complete lack of prior planning to face such natural flooding that occurs on a yearly basis. It is unfortunate that the authorities failed to learn anything from the last flood in June 2012 when as many as three flood displaced rhinos were poached. Absence of rapport and coordination with the fringe communities has also weakened the Forest Department’s monitoring mechanism over the peripheral areas of the Park.
We strongly demand that the State Forest Department and Kaziranga National Park Authority ensures proper coordination with the KAADC Forest Department to ensure safety to the straying rhino in the foothills. We also demand that perpetrators of the crime be pursued and brought to the justice and an accountability should be introduced within the authority which is responsible for protection of our natural heritage. At the same time, Aaranyak also demands that the State Forest Department and Ministry of Environment and Forest, GOI undertake serious efforts to prevent any such incidents in future.
PermalinkSubmitted by jyotirmoy on Fri, 28/09/2012 - 23:47
Such a painful image. I hope the rhino is put down to end it's suffering. There must be involvement of local villagers for poachers to come and commit their crimes.
How many rhinos need to be killed before the Assam Govt. does something about it.
Education minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma’s resignation still mires in utter confusion. Dr Sarma, who has already put in his papers from the cabinet has not yet formally made any announcement. He further has sent resignation letter to Assam Assembly Speaker Pranab Gogoi to quit as MLA. But Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has not so far confirmed the receipt of the resignation. When asked, Gogoi on Saturday refused to divulge anything.
Karnataka chief minister Jagadish Shettar claimed on Saturday that normalcy is back to Bangalore. He expressed confidence that the north east people would soon be back in the city. He said that some rumours have forced the north east people to leave Banglore and that not one untoward incident has taken place in Bangalore. But five persons have been arrested by the police. The Karanataka chief minister also said ministers from northeastern states had inspected the steps taken by his government and had expressed satisfaction.
Unidentified swindler duped a 67-year-old woman drawing a huge amount of money through ATM in Jorhat on Satrday. According to police, Baharti Kalita asked a stranger at the counter on Friday night when the ATM near her failed to respond properly. After he came to know the secret code, the stranger handed her a fake ATM card and vanished from the ATM counter. Rs 1.54 lakh was missing from her account when the woman came draw the money with the fake card. An FIR was filed by her in the Jorhat police station against the stranger.
Fresh violence is reported from Kokrajkhar where one more person was killed on Friday. According to report, unidentified miscreants shot dead a person at Kokrajhar. The shoot out took place at around 7.30 in the evening where three assailants came on motorbikes.
Police in Bangaluru on Friday have arrested five persons charging them with spreading rumours of impending attack by miscreants. Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar intensified measures to instill confidence among the northeastern community that has been leaving the state following ethnic violence against them. The state government has also asked all agencies to scan all social media platforms to check for inflammatory and offensive content. Cellphone operators have been told to block all bulk SMS-es and videos.
Yet another cabinet team has reached Hyderabad on Friday in a bid to stop the exodus of the north east people from Andhara Pradesh. Ministers Pradyut Bordoloi and Rakibul Hussain, and MLA Bikshapathi Yadav reviewed the situation in Anajaiahnagar and Siddiquenagar where a large number of Assamese people are fleeing to their home state fearing attack.
The Assam government on Friday rushed to cabinet teams to Bangalore and Hyderabad to help the states stop massive exodus of the north east people. Assam Agriculture Minister Nilamoni Sen Deka and Transport Minister Chandan Brahma arrived at Bangalore Railway station. They would meet the state government in Karnataka to review the situation. Brahma met the students and other members of the Assamese community living in Karnataka. He said that he would remain in Bangalore for the next two days. Karnataka Home Minister R Ashok and Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister S Suresh Kumar along with Congress leaders Oscar Fernandes, G Parameshwar and Dinesh Gundu Rao were also present on the...
The aftermath of BTAD violence has resulted in a string of violence in Lucknow in the form of arson under the garb of agitation to protest violence against Muslims in Assam and Myanmar. Around 50 people created ruckus in the crowded Hazratganj area violence soon after Friday prayer. Soon after the namaz, a mob which reportedly came out of from a mosque in Wazirganj area marched in the form of procession till Buddha park before turning violent. The miscreants broke window panes of several vehicles and tried to set afire a few.
ULFA commander-in-chief Paresh Barua on Friday said the internal conflict between a senior minister and the Chief Minister has resulted in the BTAD clash. In a statement, ULFA urged the people of Assam to support the ‘call of sovereignty’, failing which the cycle of violence in the region would continue.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Friday appealed to the political parties not to indulge in blamegame on the BTAD clash and massive exodus of north east people from the southern side. He said it when he convened an all party meeting in Dispur on Friday. The meeting decided to dispatch an all party delegation to the riot hit areas.
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