Elephant tusk seized in Bokajan, Two arrested

Bokajan: The Khatkhati police foiled a bid to smuggle an elephant tusk and arrested two smugglers along Assam-Nagaland border in East Karbi Anglong.

According to reports, acting on a tip-off, the police succeeded in nabbing the two smugglers from Khatkhati Kaliram Basti and seized the 12-inch long ivory tusk weighing about 3 kilograms from their possession.

The arrested duo has been identified as Ninoka Zhimo and Jeremi Zhimo. Both are resident of Zuneboto, Nagaland. Preliminary investigation revealed that the ivory tusk was extracted from poached elephants in the forested areas of Nagaland and was brought for sale into Assam for an amount of RS 2,25,000.

It may be mentioned that the demand for ivory in the South East Asian countries had led to increases in wildlife poaching in the Northeastern states.

Recently, an adult elephant was shot dead and poachers made away with its tusks from the Bormanthi area of Bokajan.