Kaziranga night safari row: ‘There is no violation’, says Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma

A row erupted after CM Sarma, spiritual guru Jaggi Vasudev and state tourism minister Jayanta Malla Baruah visited the national park at night in an open-top SUV, with videos of the incident circulating on social media and news channels. Activists Soneswar Narah and Prabin Pegu filed an FIR with the Bokakhat Police Station in Golaghat district against the trio for allegedly breaking the law as per the Wild Life Protection Act, of 1972. The two activists said that the law is equal for everyone and demanded immediate arrest or a public apology from the three named in the FIR.

Many also questioned the CM’s action on social media as Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve is a protected area. An RTI activist Rohit Choudhury questioned whether the CM and others on the night safari violated the law.

"We have started an inquiry into the issue. As the KNP falls under the forest department, we have asked for a status report on the allegations from the divisional forest officer of the park,” a senior officer of the Bokakhat Police Station in Golaghat district told The New Indian Express.

Section 27 of the Wildlife Protection Act restricts entry into a National Park or protected forest area, with certain exemptions, which can be granted by the Chief Wildlife Warden or the authorised officers.

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