Guwahati, 11 August (HS): More than 40 individuals have been arrested across Assam as part of the ongoing ‘Operation Falcon’, a major anti-poaching drive aimed at dismantling both local and cross-border syndicates involved in the killing of rhinos for their horns.
Launched in 2024 following a sharp rise in poaching incidents, the operation has disrupted key trafficking channels, some linked to illegal wildlife trade routes through Myanmar. The arrests span multiple districts — including Biswanath, Darrang, Nagon, Karbi Anglong, Sonitpur, Udalguri, Dibrugarh and Cachar.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma credited the combined efforts of the Assam Police and forest department, saying the mission utilises “everything from ground-level surveillance to advanced digital intelligence” to track suspects. In a social media post, he described the drive as “breaking the back of poaching and illegal animal trade.”
Authorities say the seizure of this many suspects — many with alleged ties to international crime rings — marks a significant blow to the trade in rhino horns, prized in illicit markets for supposed medicinal properties despite lacking scientific proof.
The chief minister affirmed that ‘Operation Falcon’ will press on “until poaching is eradicated from Assam.”
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Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash