Assam: Nagaon DM orders magistrate inquiry into killing of two suspected poachers

Guwahati (Assam) [India], June 23 : The Nagaon District Magistrate in Assam on Sunday issued an order to initiate a magistrate inquiry into the killing of two suspected poachers in Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary under the jurisdiction of Juria police station.
The firing incident took place on Saturday near Rowmari Beel under Gorajan Range, in Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary in the jurisdiction of Juria Police Station, when the forest officials shot the two individuals resembling poachers.
The deceased have been identified as Samar Uddin (30) and Abdul Jalil (35). Both hailed from the village of Dhingbori Chapori in the Nagaon district of Assam.
The order also stated that the Enquiry Officer would complete the enquiry within 10 Days and submit a report with a supported copy of all relevant documents to the undersigned within that period.
"All concerned will render necessary assistance to the enquiry officer for the purpose and provide his access to all records related to the incident," said in the order copy issued by the District Magistrate, Nagaon.
The issued order reads, "Seen the report submitted by the Divisional Forest Officer, Nagaon Wildlife Division cum Deputy Director, Kaziranga Tiger Reserve vide No WLN/B/Offence/2024/1222, Dated 22/06/2024, regarding a firing incident took place near Rowmari Beel under Gorajan Range, Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary under Juria P.S. where two person were shot dead by the forest officials namely - 1) Samar Uddin, Age-30 Yrs, S/o- Md. Mamtaz Ali and 2) Abdul Jalil, Age- 35 Yrs. both are village of Dhingbori Chapori under Juria P.S., Dist- Nagaon, Assam.
In view of above, Shri Sudeep Nath, ACS, Addl. District Magistrate, Nagaon is hereby entrusted to cause a detail inquiry into the matter as per NHRC guidelines to find out the actual facts and circumstance leading to death of the aforesaid persons."
Earlier, Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma directed the Chief Secretary of the state to immediately constitute an inquiry to investigate the killing of two suspected poachers at Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary.
Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma wrote on X - "Last night, individuals from Sutirpar village trespassed into Lawkhua-Burachapari Reserve Forest. During an encounter with patrolling forest guards, a guard opened fire in self-defence, resulting in the deaths of Samaruddin and Abdul Jalil. I have directed the Chief Secretary of Assam to immediately constitute an inquiry to investigate the incident thoroughly."
According to the reports, on June 22, at around 1.00 am in night, the forest patrolling parties while on Rhino protection duty near Saraihagi Anti-Poaching camps confronted a group of 20 armed miscreants near Roumari Beel, under Gorajan Range, Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary.
Kaziranga National Park & Tiger Reserve Director Sonali Ghosh said in a press statement that, when challenged, the intruders attacked with sharp weapons, and the forest team opened fire in self-defence.
"Later DFO Nagaon WL and SP Nagaon reached the spot and the two fatally wounded intruders were taken to the Nagaon Civil Hospital where they were pronounced dead. Meanwhile, the Forest department has lodged an FIR and the Police and magisterial inquiry has been initiated as per procedure. Roumari beel and adjoining grassland areas are one of the most prominent rhino habitats under Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary."
"The sanctuary had a tragic past of rhino poaching, illegal fishing, hunting, and encroachment in the 1980s. In the mid-1980s, around 45 rhinos were poached to local extinction. Miscreants are known to have attacked forest staff on multiple occasions."
"For the last two years, the forest department has strengthened the boundaries with additional forest frontline and maintained a strong vigil. It is due to such interventions that 2-3 rhinos that had naturally migrated from Orang Tiger Reserve have moved into the Roumari landscape since October last year. At present the police and forest department staff are camping on the site to maintain law and order," Sonali Ghosh said in the statement.