A gunfight broke out between suspected poachers and forest patrolling parties at the Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday. Two poachers were killed during the exchange of fire. Soon after, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma ordered an investigation into the incident and took to X, formerly Twitter, saying, “Last night, individuals from Sutirpar village trespassed into Lawkhua-Burachapari Reserve Forest. During an encounter with patrolling forest guards, a guard opened fire in self-defence, resulting in the deaths of Samaruddin (35) and Abdul Jalil (40). I have directed the Chief Secretary of Assam to immediately constitute an inquiry to investigate the incident thoroughly.” The two poachers killed in the forest department action were identified to be residents of Dhingbari Chapari village in Juria. In a statement, the forest patrolling parties informed that while they were on duty for rhino protection near Saraihagi Anti-Poaching camps, they confronted a group of around 20 armed miscreants near Roumari Beel, under Gorajan Range in the Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary. When challenged, the intruders attacked the officials with sharp weapons and a clash broke out, during which two intruders were “fatally wounded”. The Assam Forest Department lodged an FIR in the incident and a magisterial inquiry has also been ordered. Roumari Beel, a major marshy waterbody, and the adjoining grassland areas are among prominent rhino habitats under Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary. Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary witnessed several incidents of rhino poaching, illegal fishing, hunting, and encroachment in the 1980s.
