Rhino poacher shot dead in Assam

Forest guards have shot dead a rhino poacher in an encounter inside the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Morigaon district, a forest official said today.

The poacher had entered the sanctuary last night near a forest camp where he faced forest guards and fired at them in a bid to escape.

The forest guards retaliated and in the ensuing encounter, the poacher was killed, the official said.

A rifle and 14 rounds of ammunition were recovered from the spot.

The body of the poacher has been sent for postmortem examination, the official added.