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.
Normalcy is back to the BTAD areas. There is no report of any new incidents of violence from Kokrajhar, Chirang and Dhubri districts during the last 48 hours. But night curfew is in place in all three districts and security forces are maintaining constant vigil. Altogether 77 people died in the strife since July 19, while over four lakh have been displaced.
All Assam Students Union has warned the government not to allow the immigrants to settle in the name of rehabilitation package. Addressing a press conference in Guwahati on Sunday, the AASU leaders said that they would keep a close vigil on the rehabilitation works to ensure that not even a single immigrant is allowed to get the benefit.
The CPI(M) blamed it all on Dispur for failing to prevent the ethnic clashes in BTAD areas and Dhubri. The party further accused BJP of trying to give the clashes a communal colour. Talking to reporters on Sunday, CPM leader Uddhab Barman said that the state government failed to act on time when the first incidents of attack took place on July 19 and 20. He refuted allegations made by Advani and others that Bangladeshi immigrants are behind the violence.
A group of hardcore militant managed to flee n Majuli during a heavy exchange of fire on Sunday. The encounter took place at Kakh Chapori in the wee hours. Acting on a tip off police raided a hideout at around 4 in the morning. As police reached the spot the militants resorted to firing from nearby woods. When retaliated, the encounter took place which continued for a few minutes before the militants fled. Three walkie talkies, mobile sets, some batteries and two bags containing items of personal use were recovered from the site.Police are continuing search operations in the area to nab the militants.
Journalists’ Forum Assam (JFA) has appealed to the people of Assam and northeast India to celebrate the forthcoming Independence Day (I-Day) defying the diktat of the militants. In a press statement, issued by JFA president Rupam Barua and secretary Nava Thakuria, the forum argues that both I-Day and Republic Day are two auspicious occasions for every patriotic Indian to pay their respect to hundred thousand martyrs of India's Freedom Movement.
Mentionable is that the anti-talk faction of the United liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) with many other outfits of the region have as usual called for a general strike on August 15. Others who have joined the chorus for boycotting the...
Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shindhe will visit to the violence-hit BTAD areas on Monday. According to Assam Pradesh Committee, the duo are scheduled to arrive at the Gopinath Bordoiloi International airport at 10-30 in the morning. They would straightly leave for Kokrajhar to BTAD by a helicopter. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and other top officials of Assam Pradesh Congress Committee will also visit the BTAD area on the same day.
Health and education minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said that high level probe would be ordered to ascertain the reasons behind the mysterious death of Madhurjya Barukiyal who was found floating in a pond inside the college campus on Friday.
According to AEC authority, Madhurjya, who hailed from Kamargaon in Golaghat, had gone to bath in the pond after playing a game of football on Friday evening. His body was later recovered from the pond. His body was sent for postmortem at the Guwahati Medical College and later taken to his hometown.
Family members of the boy claimed that it was a case of ragging and demanded a proper investigation into the incident.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi has constituted the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee to be led by Bhubneswar Kalita. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, Union Minister Pawan Singh Ghatowar, former Union Ministers B K Handique and Santosh Mohan Dev and Hemprabha Saikia have been made executive members in the newly-constituted Pradesh Congress Committee.
The newly-constituted PCC has eight Vice Presidents and 11 general secretaries. All MPs of the party from Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have been made permanent invitees to the Committee.
President of State Youth Congress and NSUI and all AICC office bearers from the state have been made permanent invitees. Former Speaker Seikh Chand Mohammed, state...
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has condemned the Mumbai violence and asked people to maintain calm. Talking to reporters in Guwahati after the violent protest in Mumbai, she talked his Maharashtra counterpart to ensure safety of the Assamese people in the state. The protesters suddenly turned violent and torched a media vehicle and damaged buses. They also pelted stones forcing police to open fire in the air and resorted to a lathi-charge to disperse the mob.
Condemning the Mumbai violence over BTAD riot, VHP on Saturday said those who took part in it should be arrested and penalised for damage caused to life and property. VHP leader Pravin Togadia said those who took part in the violence and arson as well as those who instigated the same should be arrested. He further said that the damage caused to public property should be recovered from the rioters.
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