We two, myself and my wife Seena, reached Dibrugarh in Assam , after traveling more than 3000 kms . Our destination was Namdapha National Park in Arunachal Pradesh The tour operator told us that the next day (07 April 2008) - the founders day of the bodo agitations-will be a bandh day ,though no bandh was announced. The Tour operators seemed much worried and they warned us that anything could happen on April 07.They were ready to arrange a vehicle to Namdapha NP,provided the risks should be meted out by us. After thinking for a while ,I told the operators to make the necessary arrangements to start the trip early in the morning and they did so.

After undergoing thorough security checks all through the way by gunweilding armed soldiers, at four points, we reached in a forest village kamja in Lohit District and were relieved after crossing some mud puddling spots on the road.

It was cloudy by noon and suddenly we passed a small river crossing and stopped the vehicle, sighting a congregation of butterflies on the road. As I stepped outside the vehicle, a loud gunshot was heard very close to us I am wondering now what was my thought then,which I do not remember but what I have seen is something which I wont forget in my whole life A puddling of unseen butterflies which consisted of 9 species of swallow tails and some 20 plus other species of butterflies and as I was busy shooting I saw a man walking towards me on the road, My wife and driver were sitting inside the vehicle. I felt uneasy but went on shooting as he reached me I looked at him, a stubborn middle aged man wielding a gun and a long knife hanging from his hip belt he passed me and I saw a couple of dead fowls/birds on his back! Relieved we left the site heading the butterfly heaven Namdapha I had tasted butterflies of NE then, God knows how many times I shall visit NE again!!!! The featured swallowtails are Common Peacock Papilio polyctor Veined Jay Graphium chironides Great Jay Graphium eurypylus Fourbar Swordtail Graphium agetes Fivebar Swordtail Graphium antiphates Tawny Mime Chilasa agestor Lesser Mime Chilasa epycides Red Helen Papilio helenus Yellow Helen Papilio nephelus