[Assam] JFA seeks CBI probe into rhino poaching

[Nava Thakuria]

JFA seeks CBI probe into rhino poaching  
  
GUWAHATI, June 26: Welcoming the Centre’s decision on a CBI probe into the recent seizure of wildlife organs, mostly tiger parts, at Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi Airport, Guwahati, the Journalists’ Forum, Assam (JFA) has urged upon Union Minister of State for Forests and Environment  Jairam Ramesh to order a CBI investigation into unabated poaching of endangered one-horn rhinos in Assam as well. 
“We are concerned about the ongoing trend of rhino poaching in Kaziranga National Park which has lost over 50 rhinos because of poaching over the last four years. A section of the UNESCO’s world heritage site, Kaziranga are allegedly maintaining a nexus with poachers for their vested interests,” stated JFA president Rupam Barua and secretary Nava Thakuria in a memorandum to the Union Minister of State for Forests and Environment. 
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had publicly declared on May 2, 2008 that his government would favour a CBI inquiry into rhino poaching, but his statement has not turned into reality, said the JFA leaders. 
The JFA, along with the All Assam Students’ Union and Nature’s Beckon, had demanded a high-level probe into rhino poaching in the reserve forests in Assam in February 2008. State Environment and Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain had also declared that the government was ready for a CBI probe, it said. 
The memo pointed out that the  JFA had  organized a citizens’ meeting on the issue of rhino poaching at Guwahati Press Club on June 19, 2010. 
The meeting, attended by various NGOs, journalists’ organizations and other individuals, had adopted three resolutions regarding the protection of forests and wildlife in Assam. The meeting unanimously urged upon the government to declare a CBI inquiry into rhino poaching and various anomalies in the State Forest Department. In another resolution, the meeting demanded that the Forest Department of Assam must ensure a transparent forensic test for 1571 rhino horns which were supposed to be burned by the department, the JFA memo added.
 
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