Baripada: Forest department officials on Wednesday seized a pair of elephant tusks weighing a total of 2.01 kg and arrested four individuals in connection with the case. The arrests were made in the Deuli forest range along National Highway 49, under the Jharpokharia police limits in Mayurbhanj district.
Two of the four arrested individuals are inter-state wildlife smugglers. The accused have been identified as Mangal Soren from the Gondaneta area in East Singhbhum district, Jharkhand; Bijay Hansdah from Kanimahuli village in Chakulia district, Jharkhand; Birsa Murmu from Dahisahi area under Rasgobindpur police limits in Mayurbhanj district; and Jogeswar Naik from Patagadia area.
In addition to the elephant tusks, forest officials have seized a motorcycle used by the accused. Further investigations into the case are underway.
