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Rhino poaching sparks protest in Assam

     Guwahati: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came out on streets on Saturday to protests against recent killings of rhinos at the Kaziranga National Park in Assam. The protesters were showing their angst at the recent spur in poaching incidents at the national park. The protesters blamed the Bangladeshi immigrants who have encroached the forestland at Kaziranga for the poaching incidents. They also burnt an effigy of the State Forest Minister Raqib-ul-Hussain for showing apathy towards the issue. "Bangladeshis have encroached the forest land at Kaziranga and they are frequently indulge in poaching activities. Despite our repeated appeals to the Government to remove them from the area, nothing has been done so far," President of BJP's Assam Unit Ramen Deka said. "The Forest Minister is doing nothing to safeguard the rhinos and we severely condemn this act," he added. According to the authorities, five rhinos have been killed since January this year, which has taken the toll to 28 since 2007. Experts believe that the rhino horns, which are purported to have aphrodisiac properties, are smuggled to China and other Asian markets. Buyers from Middle East also use the horns to make ornamental dagger handles. Estimates suggest rhino horns can sell for up to 35,000 dollars per kilogram.
-Feb 10,  2008