Four poachers killed in Kaziranga National Park

Kaziranga (Assam): Four poachers have been killed following an encounter with a joint team of forest guards and Special Task Force in Assam's Kaziranga National Park.Acting on a tip-off about the presence of about six to seven poachers in the area, the forest guards and Special Task Force launched an operation in Agratoli range of the Park since last evening, a senior Park official said.An encounter took place last evening near Duramoni Noloni camp where two poachers were killed on the spot while the others managed to escape but the forest guards and security personnel chased them.An encounter took place again and two poachers were shot at but their bodies were recovered this morning.The poachers have been identified as Karpung Pegu, Jit Doley, Brown Mili and Yusuf Ali and a .303 rifle, two silences. 10 live cartridges, eight empty cartridges and some food materials were recovered.Altogether nine rhinos have been killed in the park while 20 poachers were killed and 22 poachers/linkmen arrested by forest guards and security forces in the park and its adjoining areas so far during this year.PTI