Poachers surrender in Jaldapara

TT, Alipurduar: Eight poachers on Saturday surrendered before forest officials at the Jaldapara National Park and handed over two guns, trap-nets and some other materials used to kill animals.

Foresters said those surrendered were all residents of a village on the fringes of Jaldapara and identified are as Alok Das, Batash Indowar, Ranjit Munda, Sukhlal Oraon, Sunil Munda, Bandia Munda, Mithun Oraon and Rajesh Oraon.

"The poachers admitted killing animals like deer, wild boar and rabbit in the Jaldapara on a regular basis but have denied assassinating big animals like rhino, elephant or leopard," said a forester.

"We are, however, not buying their story. We have information that even if they have not killed the animals on their own, they have helped others in poaching such animals in Jaldapara and other areas," the forester added.

Kumar Vimal, the divisional forest officer of Jaldapara wildlife division, said that they had increased vigil in all the forest villages adjacent to the Jaldapara National Park.