1 held, tusk recovered in Ganjam

Berhampur: Forest officials have arrested one person and recovered the tusk, allegedly extricated by poachers after killing an elephant at Karchuli jungle in Odisha's Ganjam district about a week ago.

The one foot-long tusk buried in the forest was recovered yesterday, Divisional Forest Officer Ghumusara (North) R C Sethi said. The poachers were suspected to bury the tusk, after electrocuting an adult tusker in the jungle under Buguda forest range on September 26. Acting on a tip-off, forest personnel raided the area and located the looted tusk inside the jungle, the DFO said.

While the forest officials have arrested a person for killing the jumbo, the main accused persons are still at large. “We have raided several areas, including Bhubaneswar to apprehend the main culprits. Since we have identified the accused, we are very much hopeful to book them very soon,” he said adding t least three more persons were suspected to be involved in the incident.
The old elephant was electrocuted after the animal got entangled with the live electric wires laid down by the poachers inside the jungle. Forest officials had also recovered the wires from the spot.