Fugitive accused of rhino smuggling arrested

CHITWAN: JUNE 11 – Chitwan National Park has arrested a person involved in rhino smuggling. Khadka Bahadur Gurung was arrested by the National Poaching Control Unit from Gaindakot.

According to Lokendra Adhikari, information officer of the park, 32-year-old Soma and Khadka Bahadur Gurung alias Min Bahadur Gurung of Gaindakot Municipality-3 have been arrested. Gurung was arrested by a joint team of the Poaching Control Special Team, Nepal Army and Gaindakot Area Police Office, the official said.

According to him, Gurung has been charged with three counts of involvement in four poaching cases. There are two cases against him in Nawalpur District Court and one in Chitwan District Court. The park claims that he was the one who provided weapons to the poachers of rhinos on Bhadra 16 and 17, 2077 BS and even shot them himself. According to the park, rhinos have entered the park six times for poaching and killed at least four rhinos.

He had been absconding. Also recovered from him were 12 packs of ammunition used in guns, 15 packs of gun bearings and rods used in stuffed guns. In the current fiscal year, Chitwan National Park has arrested 26 people involved in smuggling and taken legal action against them. Of them, 22 are defendants of recent incidents and four are absconding defendants.