CORRESPONDENT
MORIGAON, Nov 10 – While poaching has taken a turn for the worse at the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary with the death of the third rhino in five months, uncalled for political pressure is hampering investigations and complicating the matter.Following the death of the third rhino in the wee hours yesterday, forest and police authorities arrested a person in this connection today. They, however, have refrained from divulging details, including his name, apprehending political interference as was experienced in the earlier case.
A Congress leader was arrested subsequent to the poaching of a rhino on June 11, but as per allegations of the local people, he could manage to go scot-free due to political pressures exerted by a local minister.
The second rhino was killed by poachers on October 12. In that case, police and forest officials were able to arrest a few persons and also seized the horn from them.
Nature and conservation NGOs have expressed serious concern over the spurt in rhino deaths at Pobitora, which had the unique zero-poaching distinction for over five years prior to this year's killings.
