According to the DFO, Mangaldai Wild Life Division, SK Diala here, the encounter took place at around 11-30 pm within the Ramkong forest camp area on the east-south part of the park when the forest patrolling team witnessed the group of armed poachers moving inside the forest with the help of torch lights. The forest guards asked them to surrender but they fired at the forest team and in retaliation the forest guards also opened fire killing one poacher on the spot. However the other members of the gang escaped.

A hand made fire arm, two live ammunition of .303 rifle, two blank cartridges, a bag and torch lights has reportedly been recovered from the site. The slain poacher is yet to be identified till the filing of this report.

It may be mentioned that it was the second incident of encounter within a fortnight in the National Park. Earlier on the night of January 7 last in the Kachomari forest camp area of the park, one poacher identified as Ekramul Islam (22) of Bagoribari village adjacent to the park was reportedly injured in a fierce gun battle between forest guards and a group of armed poachers.On the night of July 31 last year, two were gunned down by forest guards in the area under No-1 forest camp close to river Pachnoi.