Thakurmunda/Baripada: Forest officials busted an ivory smuggling racket as it arrested four persons and seized two tusks from their possession during a raid at Dillaganj near Champajhar on ThakumundaUdala road in Mayurbhanj district, Sunday.
The accused were identified as Nityanand Singh, 24, Chamuru Singh, 23, of Hudisahi village in Podadiha, Lachhu Singh, 30, of Khuladi village under Kaptipada police limits and Raju Bankira, 27, of Dangadiha village under Mahuldiha police limits. The seized pair of tusks weighs 3.5 kg, Thakurmunda forest ranger Kishore Panigrahi said. The accused persons carrying the tusks from Podadiha area under Kaptipada sub-division were on their way to Thakurmunda area.
Meanwhile, the forest officials reportedly received an intelligence input alerting them about the possible bid to sell off the tusks.
Acting on the tip-off, Thakurmunda ranger Kishore Panigrahi and Karanjia ACF Madan Mohan Mohanta formed a team and lay in hiding at Dillaganj on ThakurmundaUdala road. They pounced on the five persons riding on three bikes and seized the tusks while one of them managed to escape. Further investigations were on.
