Odisha STF arrests two wildlife criminals, seizes elephant tusks
Bhubaneswar, Oct 17 (UNI) The Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha Police has arrested two wildlife criminals and recovered two elephant tusks weighing 4.795 kg from their possession.
STF sources said that based on an intelligence input, a raid was conducted yesterday evening at Jadupur near Pathpantha Niwas under Athmallik police limits in Angul district.
During the operation, the STF team apprehended two accused, Chandan Mohapatra and Sharat Kumar Kheti. Two elephant tusks kept in a jari sack, along with other incriminating documents, were seized from their possession.
As the accused failed to produce any valid license or authority for possessing the tusks, they were arrested and forwarded to the court of the SDJM, Athmallik.
A case has been registered under Sections 303(2) and 317(2)/61(20)(a) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Section 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. The investigation is underway.
