Poacher Slain in Assam Forest Gunfight

A suspected timber poacher was fatally shot in an exchange of gunfire with forest guards in Assam's Raimona National Park on Tuesday afternoon. The confrontation arose when a patrol team encountered individuals illegally felling trees within the protected area. The guards reported that the group opened fire, leading to a retaliatory response. Subsequently, a body was recovered from the scene. The deceased has been identified as Phungkha Basumatary, a local youth. In reaction to his death, residents from his village reportedly vandalized a forest office and a government vehicle on Wednesday. Authorities are investigating the precise circumstances of the shootout and Basumatary's demise. The forest department indicated that Basumatary was a repeat offender with multiple timber smuggling cases against him, and he was also allegedly involved in animal poaching.