Assam: Suspected Poachers Kill Wild Elephant, Flee with Tusks on Outskirts of Guwahati

A suspected case of wildlife poaching has been reported from the outskirts of Guwahati, after a wild elephant was allegedly shot dead by poachers in a remote hill area of Dimoria in Assam’s Kamrup Metro district on Tuesday.

The incident reportedly occurred in the rugged **Dikchak hills**, under the jurisdiction of the **Topatoli Range Forest Office**. According to local residents, the elephant—believed to be a male—was shot in the head before the poachers allegedly cut off and took away its tusks and trunk.

Some locals claimed they suspect the poachers may have entered the area from the **Meghalaya side**, allegedly with a pre-planned attempt to kill the animal.

Residents stated that they heard gunshots in the early hours of Tuesday and later witnessed a herd of elephants fleeing in panic. Growing suspicious, they immediately alerted the forest department.

Acting on the information, forest officials launched a search operation across the difficult hilly terrain. After several hours of intensive search, the team traced an elephant carcass.

Forest department officials confirmed that the carcass indicated a possible poaching incident, as the elephant was found without tusks, pointing towards illegal hunting.

An official from the department said they were alerted after locals reported hearing gunfire in the forest. “After tracing the herd, we located the suspected poached elephant. We first had to confirm whether it was dead or alive, so we used a small explosion near it. When there was no movement, we confirmed it was dead. On examining the carcass, we found the tusks and trunk missing,” the official stated.

The forest department has launched an investigation into the incident and is working to identify those involved.

Notably, the incident reportedly took place on the same day Assam Chief Minister **Himanta Biswa Sarma** took oath, when Kamrup Metro district was under heightened surveillance.