Guwahati, Oct 15 – A suspected poacher was shot dead during a gunfight with forest guards in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park early Wednesday morning, according to official reports.

Following intelligence inputs regarding the presence of armed poachers within the park, all anti-poaching camps were put on high alert to conduct searches and secure potential exit routes.

At approximately 2:50 AM, a river patrol team from the Burapahar Range detected a light source from an unidentified object in Maite Tapu and observed a group of armed poachers in the vicinity.

When the forest guards instructed the poachers to halt, the suspects opened fire on the team. In response, the guards returned fire in self-defense, as confirmed by the official statement.

Additional forest personnel were deployed to the area, and during subsequent searches, the body of one poacher was discovered.

Ongoing search and combing operations aim to capture the accomplices who fled the scene. The identity of the deceased poacher remains unconfirmed.

Authorities also recovered a .303 rifle and a handbag from the location of the encounter.