A tusk of an elephant that was recently killed in Assam was recovered by foresters of Baikunthapur forest division in Siliguri on Saturday evening.

The tusk was to be sold for Rs 15 lakh in Nepal.

Sources said that Alipurduar resident Manikant Gowala, who was carrying the tusk weighing 3kg, was also arrested.

Following a tip-off, a team of foresters of Belakoba range led by ranger Sanjay Dutta conducted a raid near Tinbatti More located on the outskirts of the city.

“When we reached the spot, we saw three persons bargaining beside an eatery. We tried to catch all of them, but two managed to flee. We, however, managed to arrest Gowala,” said, a source.

The foresters found Gowala had the tusk inside a gunny bag that he had on him.

“The tusk weighs 3kg. We asked him to show relevant documents that allowed him to carry wildlife body parts. When he failed to produce any, we arrested him under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972,” said the official.

During the preliminary probe, the foresters came to know that an elephant was recently killed in a forest in Assam.

“The tusk was procured from that elephant and a deal of Rs 15 lakh had been struck for it,” said an official.

Sources said Gowala confessed that he was part of a gang involved in illegal trade related to wildlife. Probe into details of the gang and the sale of the tusk is on.