Garhwal Post Bureau
Sitarganj (Udham Singh Nagar), 5 May: In a major crackdown on wildlife trafficking, the Special Task Force (STF) of the Uttarakhand Police has apprehended two seasoned smugglers/poachers in the Sitarganj area of Udham Singh Nagar district. The joint operation, conducted in coordination of the state forest department has led to the recovery of a substantial elephant tusk weighing approximately 7.820 kilograms. Initial estimates suggest that the seized ivory commanded a valuation of nearly Rs 1.5 crores in the international black market. The operation unfolded late last night following specific manual intelligence inputs gathered by the STF Kumaon unit regarding the movement of illegal wildlife body parts in the Kalyanpur locality within the Barakoli range. Upon intercepting the suspects, the officials discovered elephant tusk which measured around 3 feet 3 inches in length with a circumference of 13 inches.
The arrested persons have been booked under the stringent provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act at the Barakoli range office. Explaining the gravity of the offence, SSP STF Ajai Singh, shared that elephants are protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, making the hunting or trade of their remains a heinous crime. The STF is currently scrutinising the criminal history and previous involvements of the duo to dismantle any larger network of poachers operating across state borders. Following the recovery, the team is working to identify other accomplices who may have facilitated the procurement or intended sale of the ivory.
It may be reminded here that the crackdown follows a clear directive from the top police officers to maintain a zero-tolerance policy towards wildlife crimes and to document the detailed dossiers of all the people involved in such illicit trades. Ajai Singh emphasised that the investigation is being handled with extreme depth to ensure that every link in the smuggling chain is exposed and brought to justice. He further appealed to the general public to assist the authorities by reporting any suspicious activities related to the poaching or smuggling of forest produce. He also called upon the citizens to contact the nearest police station or the Uttarakhand STF directly via their dedicated helpline.
