Local people in Sarbhog township of Barpeta district of lower Assam attacked forest guards and gheraoed a police station alleging inaction of authorities after seven persons were injured during last two days in attacks by a stray rhino.

A rhino calf, which had recently got separated from its mother, strayed out of the Manas National Park and was creating havoc in human habitations, local people alleged.

Local people attacked a group of forest guards this morning over their alleged failure to tame the animal and the guards took shelter at the local police station to escape the wrath of the mob.

Director of Manas Tiger Project Anindya Swargiary said the forest department was trying to chase the rhino from areas of human habitation into the forest.

“We are trying our best to chase the rhino away from the human habitations without causing any harm to it and tame it and release it back at Manas,” he said.

Locals gheraoed the police station for some time and lifted the siege only after they were assured of action.
Meanwhile, the rhino has been sighted swimming in the nearby Beki river,the locals said.

The state forest department had recently shifted 18 rhinos, including the one which strayed out of Manas, from the Kaziranga National Park and the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary to Manas.