Conversion of Poachers

Militants giving up arms hardly make news in the troubled Northeast.

Militants giving up arms hardly make news in the troubled Northeast. But when seven poachers surrendered with an equal number of sophisticated rifles fitted with silencers at the Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam last week, they created a stir. Sanctuary Director Surajit Dutta, who presided over the formal surrender ceremony, said it was the first such in the country. All seven belong to the Mishing tribe, with a reputation for shooting, and had killed many rhinos and elephants. They were offered cash doles, household items and vocational training courses. Wildlife authorities have also promised them help in accessing bank loans to set up small ventures after their vocational training. The ex-poachers, on their part, have vowed to help curb poaching. The Rhino Jagaran Manch, an NGO that facilitated the surrender, says a crackdown on other poachers is imminent.

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Jaideep Mazumdar