Poacher killed in Kaziranga Park

A poacher was killed in an encounter with forest guards in Kaziranga National Park in Assam, a forest department official said today.

On a tip off about the entry of a 6-7 member group of poachers into the Park, the security guards launched an operation in Bagori Range last night, the official said.

On coming face-to-face with the forest guards near the main elephant safari point, the poachers fired and in the encounter one poacher was killed, he said.

A 303 rifle was recovered from the slain poacher, while the rest fled under the cover of darkness.

Patrolling against poaching in the World Heritage Site has been intensified after one rhino was killed on January one this year and two on January four, forest department officials said.