The special task force (STF) of the state arrested three suspected peddlers after a large consignment of “yaba” tablets worth around Rs 60 lakhs was seized from them in Malda on Monday night.

Police sources said altogether 1.70 lakh yaba tablets — a combination of methamphetamine and caffeine — were seized from the trio, all residents of Murshidabad, from Baishnabnagar police station area in Malda town.

The estimated price of the seized consignment is around Rs 60 lakhs, the police sources said.

The yaba tablets are known to be popular among drug abusers and have huge demands in the neighbouring country of Bangladesh.

“These tablets are usually brought from the northeast and smuggled to Bangladesh. A case under NDPS act has been initiated against the three suspected smugglers. We have also appealed for their custody as they need to be grilled to obtain more information,” said a police officer.

The arrested trio have been identified as Enamul Haque and Golam Murtaja — both residents of Suti —and Saheb Sheikh, who hails from Samsherganj.

In another incident, a 60-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly raping two minor girls of the same family in the Englishbazar area of Malda town.

Madanmohan Roy, the inspector-in-charge of Englishbazar police station, said family members of the victims have alleged that the sexagenarian had raped the two girls on April 30.

He was arrested following a complaint lodged by the families, Roy added.

Jumbo dies

A wild adult tusker died after it was struck by lightning near the Jaldapara National Park in Alipurduar district on Monday night.

Sources said two elephants had moved out of the park area and had entered a corn field at Khauchangpara village — adjacent to the Jaldapara National Park.

As local people sighted the two elephants, they started bursting firecrackers to steer the animals back to the Jaldapara National Park.

Soon, a team of foresters reached the village to steer back the tuskers.

Forest sources said the elephants started moving and as the duo reached the ground of a local primary school, one of them was suddenly struck by lightning.

“The jumbo fell on the ground and died on the spot. The other animal, however, managed to enter the forest safely,” said a forest source.

On Tuesday, foresters used a recovery van and a tractor to carry the elephant back to the forest where the vets conducted its post-mortem.

“The vets have confirmed that the elephant has died due to lightning,” said a senior forest officer.

Additional reporting by Anirban Choudhury in Alipurduar