A Special Task Force (STF) team of the State Crime Branch on Thursday arrested two smugglers and seized two elephant tusks from their possession following a raid at a place under the Ainthapalli police station in Sambalpur district.
The accused were identified as Hrusikesh Kumbhar, a resident of Dipapali village under the Ulunda PS in Subarnapur district, and Gopal Krushna Budak of Keutibahal village under the Charmal PS in Sambalpur district. Based on reliable information, the STF team conducted the raid near Bareipalli Chhak to bust a wildlife smuggling racket in the district.
As the accused duo failed to produce any documents in support of possession of the tusks, they were arrested.
A case was registered in this connection under Sections 379/411 IPC r/w. 51 of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 and the arrested were later forwarded to a local court. The seized tusks would be sent to the Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, for chemical examination, the STF stated.
