AGP picks up rhino poacher to contest panchayat polls in Assam

According to the reports, the regional party of Assam has given party ticket to Ganesh Doley, who was arrested by police in many occasions for his alleged involvement in rhino poaching and illegal wildlife trade.

AGP, the key ally party of the BJP-led Assam government is now facing severe criticism across the following awarding poll candidature to a tainted person.

Ganesh Doley had already filed his nomination papers for the post of president of Moridhansiri Village Panchayat under Bokakhat assembly constituency in Golaghat district and the assembly constituency is now represented by AGP president and Assam agriculture minister Atul Bora.

Ganesh Doley was first arrested by police in 2012 for his alleged involvement in rhino poaching incident in Kaziranga National Park.

A case (no – 7/2012) was registered at Rongmongwe police station in Karbi Anglong district after police arrested Ganesh Doley and one more person named Chandra Doley for their alleged involvement in rhino hunting in Kaziranga.

Police had recovered one point 32 pistol with four rounds of ammunition, a .303 gun and a .303 rifle with ammunition in possession from them.

Ganesh Doley was also arrested by police in 2014 under Wildlife Protection Act and Arms Act and he is currently out on bail.

Several rhino hunting cases against the AGP candidate are now under trial in Golaghat district court.

Meanwhile, Assam based environmental organisation Aaranyak and few other organisations have expressed their concerns over the issue and come down heavily on AGP.

On the other hand, AGP MLA and party general secretary Ramendra Narayan Kalita said that, Doley is just an accused person and the court hasn’t convicted him.

“We haven’t awarded party candidature to any criminal person convicted by the court,” the AGP MLA said.