Assam govt. to form Rhino Protection force, to equip AK series rifle to forest guards
Assam forest minister Pramila Rani Brahma on Friday said the state government has already decided to form the Rhino Protection Force with 112 armed personnel.
“To create the new force to protect the rhinos in the state and to fight against poachers the state government had sent a proposal to the Union government,” the Assam forest minister said.
“A MoU also to be signed within short period between the Assam government and the Union government,” Brahma said.
The state forest minister also said that, the forest battalion personnel to be equipped AK series rifle during this financial year to fight against poachers.
“We have received a green signal from the Union Home ministry regarding the matter and hope the forest battalion personnel to be equipped sophisticated weapons within the month March,” Brahma said.
The Assam forest minister said that, the poachers are equipped with modern sophisticated weapons and the state forest guards are still equipped with old model weapons.
“To curb the poaching incident and to fight against poachers, it is necessary to end our problems,” Brahma said.
Assam has lost a total of 23 one horned rhinos since 2016, which were poached in different national parks in the state during the period.
On the other hand, Pramilarani Brahma, who is also known as ‘Forest Queen of Assam’ denied the allegations which were raised against her as she had appointed three youths from outside in the forest department.
“I was not appointed the youths in the department, but I was engaged them as informers to collect evidence of illegal activities in the state. A section has made conspiracy against me, who were not benefited after all illegal mining and other activities stopped after I took over the departmental charge,” Brahma said.
“But I don’t care for it and will continue my work against corruption,” the Assam forest minister said.
Meanwhile, the forest minister had ordered the principal secretary of the department to stop all illegal activities in the state immediately.
(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
Image: Google Maps
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