CHITWAN, June 11: The Chitwan National Park (CNP) has arrested a person involved in rhino poaching and smuggling wildlife parts. CNP's Wildlife Poaching Control Unit arrested Khadka Bahadur Gurung alias Soma and Min Bahadur Gurung from Gaindakot.
CNP Information Officer Lokendra Adhikari said the 32-year-old fugitive from Dhodeni, Gaindakot Municipality-3 faces three cases of his involvement in four poaching incidents inside the park. A joint team of the poaching control special squad, the Nepali Army and the Gaindakot Area Police Office arrested Gurung.
Rhino poacher on the run arrested
CNP claimed that Gurung supplied the firearms used in the poaching of rhinos and was involved in shooting wild animals on September 1 and 3, 2020. He is accused of killing at least four rhinos entering the park six times. Two cases of poaching have been filed against him at the District Court, Nawalpur, and one case at the District Court, Chitwan.
Twelve packets of gunpowder, 15 gun bearings and a rod used in muzzleloader have been confiscated.
With Gurung's arrest, CNP has so far arrested 26 poachers and initiated legal action against them. Among them, 22 are involved in recent incidents of rhino poaching and smuggling of wildlife parts while four are fugitives.
(RSS)
