Four ivory tusks seized in Keonjhar, five arrested
The Forest Department has arrested as many as five persons after seizing four ivory tusks at Balibeda village under Bhuyan Juang Peedha range of Keonjhar district.
Keonjhar: The Forest Department has arrested as many as five persons after seizing four ivory tusks at Balibeda village under Bhuyan Juang Peedha range of Keonjhar district.
Acting a tip-off, the forest officials conducted a raided a house in Balibeda village and arrested five persons from the spot whom they identified as Gangadhar Patra of Balibeda village, Narada Munda of Jambhiripashi village, Kedarnath Patra of Valiyadih village in Mayurbhanj district, Krishnachandra Munda of Jhadpokhari village, and Ghaziram Munda of Bardapal village.
During the raid, the Forest officials arrested the accused persons while they were planning to sell the ivory tusks weighing 5.058 kg. Apart from the four ivory tusks, they also seized four mobile phones and two bikes from the possessions of the arrestees.
While briefing the media persons about the seizure of the ivory tusks, Keonjhar Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Dhanraj H.D said, “The raid was conducted after three days of planning. The raid was conducted at the house of Gangadhar Patra based on the inputs of the Similipal Wildlife Intelligence Network, Keonjhar district police and field staff of Keonjhar Forest Department.
“We seized four ivory tusks during the raid as the arrested persons did not have any document and could not give any valid reason of possessing the ivory tusks,” he added.
Further probe is underway to known more detail about the wildlife smuggling and ascertain others involvement, informed sources.
