Baripada: Acting on tip-off, a special team of Forest department personnel belonging to Similipal Tiger Conservation project in Mayurbhanj district seized Tuesday two elephant tusks weighing around 30kg and arrested 10 persons for their involvement in illegal ivory trade. The matter came to the fore after PCCF Susant Nanda posted about the seizure of the elephant tusks and the arrests of 10 persons in his ‘X’ handle.
A press release on the matter was also issued by Samrat Gouda, deputy director of Similipal Tiger Conservation project. Those arrested were identified as Ghashiram Jerai, 45, of Saunpala village, Anand Kerai, 55, Shibashankar Banra,55, both of Dharuabeda village, Chaku Halda, 35, of Tamakshila village, Dabra Badra,45, Berga Badra, 21, Paplu Badra, 22, all residents of Khejuri village, Sanatan Badra, 24, of Kandabila village, Markand Ho, 23, of Thakurgada village under Jashipur police limits and Narendra Banra, 53, of Nuagaon village under Bisoi police limits. The Forest personnel achieved the breakthrough after intelligence inputs alerted them about some persons planning to sell two elephant tusks. Accordingly, Gouda formed a special team comprising personnel from the special task force (STF), joint task force (JTF) and Forest department. Acting on the inputs, some team members posing as decoy customers met the poachers and illegal ivory traders and expressed interest to buy the tusks and sealed a deal with them.
As per negotiation, when the illegal ivory traders were on their way to meet the ‘customers’, other team members hiding in Bisoi, pounced on them and arrested them. The Forest department team also seized two elephant tusks from those held. During the interrogation of the five, the names of more accomplices surfaced. They were also arrested from different parts of this district. The team members are investigating the involvement of other persons and the extent of the smuggling racket. Deputy director Sai Kiran of Similipal North Forest Division as well as Rairangpur Forest Division also participated in the raid
