The state forest department conducted a joint raid with the 41 battalion of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) in Siliguri subdivision on Tuesday and seized ivory supposed to be smuggled to Nepal.
Budu Samad and Nitu Lal Nagasia, both residents of Tarbandha in Phansidewa, were arrested in this connection from Ghoshpukur under Phansidewa police station of the subdivision.
“They were carrying 136 grams of elephant tusk or ivory in pieces worth around Rs 3 lakh in the grey market. They planned to smuggle it to Nepal,” said a source.
The duo were handed over to Phansidewa police.
Narcotics seized
Troops of the 174 battalion of the Border Security Force conducted a raid near a hospital in Itahar of North Dinajpur on Wednesday and nabbed Gobinda Sarkar, an alleged narcotics smuggler in Gazole, Malda, with 350gm of brown sugar worth around Rs 45 lakh, said sources.
The BSF also carried out raids in other locations under its north Bengal frontier and seized contraband items, including cattle and cough syrup bottles worth Rs 3.57 lakh.
Deer meat
Foresters of Gorumara North Range conducted a raid in North Ingdong area under Matialli block of Jalpaiguri on Wednesday and seized deer meat, cooked and raw, from a house in the locality. Two persons were arrested in this connection. Foresters are trying to find out from where the deer was hunted as well as its skin, horns and hooves. A sniffer dog has been engaged.
