For rhinos, India dials Interpol to bust the racket

Guwahati: Bogged down by the danger of rhino poaching in Assam, the Government of India has sought the help of Interpol to bust the racket of clandestine trading of rhino horn in the international market.

Informing that efforts have started yielding results, the additional director general wild-life, ministry of environment and forest Mr B.S. Bonal said that security agencies have succeeded in apprehending a number of smugglers involved in poaching and clandestine trade of rhino horns abroad with the help of Interpol.

Pointing out that they have been brought back to India to face trial, he said that government was also providing fund and other logistic support to the state government for raising a special Rhino Protection Force in Assam. Following the pattern of Tiger Protection Force, the ministry has taken this decision of raising Rhino Protection Force.

Mr Bonal who also served as director of the Kaziranga National Park and was instrumental in stopping the rhino poaching said that an officer of the rank of ACF would head the force, consisting of 112 personnel including a quick reaction team.

The Assam government would be arranging the training of the personnel. He said that new Force would give a big boost to rhino protection measures in Kaziranga National Park.

He also stressed that need of proper synergy between the forest department, law enforcing agencies and even the paramilitary forces engaged in guarding the international borders of the country to deal with the problem of poaching.