Absconding rhino poacher busted after 15 years

Chitwan, Dec 4 : A person convicted of poaching rare wildlife, one-horned rhino, has been busted after 15 years. The arrestee is 36-year-old Suraj Chaudhary aka Surya of Bharatpur metropolis-26, Divyanagar. According to information officer of the Chitwan National Park (CNP) Lokendra Adhikari, Chaudhary was convicted of shooting out a rhino and smuggling its horn at Bhalutapu across Shisuwaghat some 15 years ago.

The CNP had sentenced Chaudhary a jail-term of 15 years and penalty of cash Rs 100,000 on 4 January 2008. A case was filed against him on poaching charge on 28 September 2005. Chaudhary was identified as a fugitive Nepal Army personnel. He was mobilized by a gang of wildlife smugglers to shoot out the rare animal when their twin attempts had already remained abortive. The smugglers had shot dead the rhino with a gun purchased from India.

Adhikari further shared that the Chaudhary group had sold out the rhino horn to the Pushpa Lal Bhandari group. Police arrested Chaudhary from Khurkhure on Thursday. Chaudhary had returned Nepal from Qatar one year ago. The absconder was sent to the District Prison Office Chitwan, Adhikari informed. CNP has come up with new strategic actions lately to curb wildlife poaching and smuggling with the rise in such unlawful activities.