Park sources said forest guards, including home guards, got engaged in a gun battle with a gang of poachers around 1.30 am inside the park. The home guard, identified as Sushil Sil, was seriously injured and succumbed on way to the hospital.
During search operation, the carcass of the pachyderm with its horn sawn off was recovered near Belsiri camp of the Park, the sources said.
A pistol and ten rounds of ammunition were recovered from the site, they said, adding a hunt has been launched to track the poachers.