The Assam government has asked the Centre to order a CBI probe into the rising incidents of rhino poaching in Kaziranga National Park and other places of Assam, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said today.

After noticing increasing instances of rhino poaching, the state government has asked the Centre to order a CBI inquiry, Gogoi told reporters here.

Responding to a query, Gogoi said, "There may be a political conspiracy behind the killings. This and the involvement of some insurgent elements, forest department personnel or others with poachers will be unearthed by the CBI probe".

Meanwhile, the state government has handed over to the CID the investigation of seven cases related to poaching besides supervising another four cases.

Earlier, the government had termed the frequent poaching of rhinos as "a conspiracy of certain forces with vested interest".

Warning the conspirators that any conspiracy to endanger wildlife will be dealt with firmly, the government had said it has taken initiatives in this regard.

In a major crackdown on Thursday, the forest department had suspended two officers, show-caused two others and removed three home guards for 'dereliction of duty' following the killing of two rhinos in Kaziranga National Park.

Seven rhinos have been killed at the UNESCO World Heritage site since the beginning of this year, with four killings within one week since Tuesday.