In a significant crackdown on wildlife crime, authorities in Odisha's Keonjhar district have apprehended three individuals involved in the illegal trade of elephant tusks. A coordinated raid resulted in the seizure of a substantial quantity of ivory, highlighting the ongoing efforts to protect endangered species.
Joint Operation Nets Smugglers and Contraband
The successful operation was carried out on Wednesday by the Keonjhar forest department, which led a team comprising police and revenue officials. Acting on specific intelligence provided by a joint task force, the team conducted a raid in Ramla village, situated close to the interstate border with Jharkhand.
The raid was spearheaded by Assistant Conservator of Forests Ashok Das. During the operation, the officials managed to arrest three suspects and confiscate two elephant tusks. The total weight of the seized ivory was a significant 14.3 kilograms.
Accused Identified and Booked Under Wildlife Act
The individuals taken into custody have been identified as Kailash Chandra Tiria from Dhenkanal, Guru Charan Kerai from Jharkhand, and Mishra Munda, a resident of Balabhadrapur village in Keonjhar itself.
Following their arrest, the accused were formally charged under several sections of the stringent Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. The specific sections invoked include 9, 39(3), and 49(B) of the Act. The case has been registered as OR Case No. 12CH of 2025-26.
Investigation Points to Interstate Racket, More Arrests Likely
Providing details on the case, Keonjhar Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Dhanraj H D revealed that the preliminary investigation indicates the tusks originated from the state of Jharkhand. This points to the existence of an interstate smuggling network operating across the border region.
"The source of the tusks is Jharkhand," stated DFO Dhanraj. He further emphasized that "further investigation will be taken in coordination with other agencies and police." The officer issued a strong warning, asserting that "all involved in the smuggling will be arrested," signaling that the crackdown is far from over and more arrests may follow as the probe deepens.
This seizure underscores the persistent threat posed by wildlife trafficking and the collaborative efforts required by forest, police, and revenue departments to combat such organized crimes against India's natural heritage.
