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.
The United Liberation Front of Asom has expelled its chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa citing his failure to go back to the jungles. In a statement issued to media on Thursday, the outfit’s anti-talk faction said that Dr Abhijit Asom alias Abhijit Barman would replace him. The outfit alleged that they earlier served an ultimatum to leave the government hospitality but he failed to accede to it.
The Central Bureau of Investigation has set up a special team to probe the ethnic clash in BTAD areas and Dhubri where 73 died and thousands of people have been displaced. According to sources, the special team will be arriving in Assam on Thursday to inspect the four violence-hit districts from Friday. The country’s premier investigation agency will take up the larger conspiracy cases. The development comes two days after Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi demanded a CBI probe into the violence.
In a major setback to peace initiatives, NDFB’s Ranjan Daimary faction has withdrawn the unilateral ceasefire announced ten months ago. According to a statement signed by IK Songbijit, the decision to withdraw the unilateral declaration for cessation from all types of violence has been taken after considering all aspects of present situation. The Ranjan Daimary faction is the breakaway group of parent NDFB, which renamed itself as NDFB (Progressive), after signing the bilateral truce with the Centre in 2005. The faction has its presence in Myanmar, sharing camps with the anti-talks faction of Ulfa and NSCN (Khaplang).
Railway Police arrested one person in connection with sensational murder of Pritam Bhattacharjee last month.Identified as Chhatu Sahni, the accused has been arrested based on information given by two eyewitnesses and is being questioned in Barauni in Bihar. Bhattacharjee, a student of atomic physics from Assam was travelling from Guwahati to Delhi in Avadh Assam express to pursue his PhD in New Delhi. When the train was passing through Naugachia in Bhagalpur in eastern Bihar, he was attacked by thieves in his compartment on July 9.
Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi said on Tuesday that CBI will probe into the group clash in Kokrajhar, Chirang and Dhubri districts where death toll has gone upto 73.
Addressing a press conference in Guwahati, Gogoi said that he has asked his ministers in tour to come back to the state immediately. He said that the group clash may be spread to other places. In yet another development, forest minister Rockybul Hussain is his way back to Assam from London where he was attending the Olympic. The instruction assumes significance a day after Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma left for Delhi.
An awareness event on Mahapurush Srimanta Sankaradeva is going to be held at Kamini Auditorium, New Delhi on September 13, 2012. The event would comprise of a Presentation on Sankaradeva followed by one hour thematic performance of a dance-drama, “Chordhora Jhumura”. The event is being organised by Trend MMS in collaboration with Assam Association, Government of Assam and Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
The main aim of the eventy is to:
- Make people residing in National Capital aware of the great teachings and rich cultural heritage of Assam initiated way back in the 15th century. Media would be the one of the stakeholders, whose attention would be sought to...
Violence resurfaces in BTAD areas. Three more persons were killed while two others injured in Kokrajhar district taking the death toll to 64. This has forced the authorities to reimpose curfew in the district. Indefinite curfew continues in the Chirang district following fresh reports of arson.
Unidentified miscreants indiscriminately fired in Ranibuli village under Kokrajhar police station on Monday midnight killing three persons and seriously injuring two others. Police and para-military forces were rushed to the affected areas. It takes place after four people were killed in a similar act of violence on Sundayt. The two injured were rushed to Guwahati Medical College and Hospital. At...
BJP president Nitin Gadkari on Monday slammed Congress accusing it of using Bangladeshi immigrant for vote bank politics in Assam. Talking to reporters in Agra, Gadkari alleged that the ruling party has politicized the entire conflict for its political gain. He said that the population of the Bangladeshis immigrants increased by 80 per cent and that the Bangladeshis completely occupied the state and managed to purchase property there.
After the anti-corruption cell raided his Tarun Nagar based residence and firm house, RH Khan said that he was the victim of a nefarious conspiracy. Talking to reporters on Monday in Guwahati, the main accused in the multi crore dima Hasao scam said that he had nothing to hide and that NIA and CBI have already probed the scam. Notably, chief minister’s anti corruption and vigilance cell recently seized some incriminating materials during a raid at his residence in Guwahati.
Normal life in Guwahati was thrown out of gear as it was lashed by heavy rainfall. Several vital points in the city are under waist deep water bringing traffic to a standstill and stranding commuters. The worst affected areas are RGB Road, GS Road and Zoo Road which have been completely submerged.
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