One piece of elephant ivory was seized

The forest department of West Bengal arrested the accused


On Sunday, the forest department of the Belakoba forest range seized one piece of elephant ivory weighing around 3 kg and measuring approximately of 2.9 ft in Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal.

According to the information, the officials arrested a man involved in smuggling, identified as Manikant Gowala (32), a resident of DRM Math in Alipurduar District of West Bengal. The other two accused fled when the Belakoba Forest Team rushed to the spot that comes under Baikunthpur Forest Division.

In a secret information, the department received the details about a consignment of illegal smuggling of elephant tusk ivory being transhipped at NH-31 near the Tinbatti More area in Siliguri. The illegal trade is supposed to be smuggled to Nepal through the Siliguri Corridor.

Following the incident, the team booked the accused under many sections of the 1972 Wildlife Protection Act and will produce him before the Jalpaiguri district court for further proceedings.

Further details are awaited.

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