The poachers arrested near Orang National Park on Saturday. A Telegraph picture

Guwahati, Aug. 21: The authorities of Orang National Park last night apprehended a group of four rhino poachers, including an alleged poacher from Nagaland, from Bihudia village on the fringe area of the park.

Md Joynaluddin, alias Junu, Md Abbas Ali, Lamkholen and Alen Khonsai were about to enter the park when they were apprehended.

Lamkholen is from the Manja Bazaar area in Karbi Anglong and Alen from Burah Bazar in Dimapur.

Forest officials claimed that Joynaluddin, who hails from Morigaon district, is involved in the killing of several rhinos at Orang and Kaziranga national parks.

“He is one of the most wanted poachers,” divisional forest officer, Orang National Park, Sushil K. Daila, said. Abbas Ali is from Sonitpur district.

“We have recovered several items, including food and medicine and mosquito repellents from the group. They were getting ready to enter the park last night,” Daila said.

Acting on a tip-off, the park’s rangers raided the village late last night in search of the group.

“They were in a particular house, making plans to kill rhinos,” Daila said, adding a search was on to find out the rifle which was to be used by the gang. “They had hidden the rifle somewhere. Interrogation is on,” the forest official said. They admitted that they were planning to kill a rhino in the Dhuni area of the park.

“They had information about the movement of two rhinos in the Dhuni area for the last couple of days.” Daila said.