The conservation of one-horned rhinos will be different than past in Assam. The 82-member Special Rhino Protection Force (SRPF) is all set to join their duties in different rhino habitats of Assam in July 15 this year.
“The 82 jawans of the Special Rhino Protection Force are undergoing training at the 9th Battalion headquarters of Assam police at Barhampur. They are likely to complete their training soon and are scheduled to join duty on July 15,” said a senior official of the Assam forest department.
The passing out parade of 82 Special Rhino Protection Force personnel was held on Friday after completion of 43 weeks of rigorous training.
On completion of training, they will be posted under all the eight ranges of Kaziranga National Park (KNP) to control rhino poaching.
“The Central as well as the state governments have taken this initiative to control rhino poaching in Kaziranga National Park. This force has been raised at the initiative of National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) for the protection of Assam’s pride, one horned rhinos from the poachers from neighboring districts around Kaziranga,” said environment and forest minister Parimal Suklabaidya.
A senior official said that the members of the Special Rhino Protection Force will be armed with AK-47 rifles.
“The department has started the process for procurement of AK-47 rifle for the members of the Special Rhino Protection Force. Immediately they will be given SLR but those will be replaced with AK series soon,” he said.