Suspected poachers exchanged fire with forest protection force in Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam's Morigaon district.
The gang entered Pabitora apparently to poach rhinos last night but on seeing the armed forest protection force men near Kodomtoli camp, they fired at them, a forest official said.
The forest squad also retaliated followed by heavy exchange of fire for over half an hour before the poachers fled away under the cover of darkness, the official said.
There was no injury or casualty and the rhinos were safe, the sources added.
Earlier on October 8 last, an adult rhino was shot dead by a gang of poachers near Tamuliduba camp in Pobitora taking the toll of rhinos killed to four last year.
The 38.8 sq km Pobitora WS, located about 30 km east of Guwahati, has the densest population of the Great Indian One-horned Rhinoceros.
