The minister's concerns were raised after the seizure of 20 kg of tiger bones worth Rs 50,00 thousand by customs officials at the Guwahati international airport in Assam. In the second case, the Assam government has ducked a CBI investigation into continuing one-horn rhino poaching in the state. Two years ago, following a huge public outcry, the Assam state government, led by Tarun Gogoi, said he had no objection to such an enquiry. But both probes, preferably by the CBI, are yet to get started.
In the meantime, October and November brought worrying news for wildlife lovers. Four elephant died in central Assam, apparently from grazing on pesticide-laden plants in tea gardens. In another incident, a group of villagers were suspected of torturing of an elephant baby to death.
The first incident provoked Ramesh to write an Oct. 12 letter (to Gogoi asking an immediate investigation. His concern was carried by the State Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain and ordered a probe (not by the CBI). Read the full report here.
Source: by Nava Thakuria, Countercurrents.org.
