Two persons arrested for possession of tusks in Vellore

The Forest Department arrested two persons after seizing two large tusks from them at their hideout in Aravatala Reserve Forest (RF) that comes under Pernambut forest range near Gudiyatham town in Vellore.

The arrested persons were identified as K. Chandrababu, 43, and S. Ellapagalla, 48. They are residents of Chethapettai village in Chittoor district on T.N. - A.P border. Initial inquiry revealed that along with two others, who are still absconding, the duo went hunting for small wild animals in the forests more than two months ago when they found two large tusks in a decomposed carcass of an elephant in the forests.

Forest officials said that they brought it to the village and informed about the treasure to their gang members. The gang decided to hide the tusks in the forest before they found prospective buyers.

During routine patrolling, a team of forest officials led by S. Ragupathy, forest range officer (Pernambut), saw the duo in the forests. Forest officials brought them to the range office where they were told about the two tusks. Subsequently, the team seized these from the hideout in the forests. A case was registered against them.

Based on an alert, T.K. Ashok Kumar, District Forest Officer (DFO), Vellore Division, also inspected the seized tusks. Forest officials said that preliminary inquiry revealed the tusks could belong to a young elephant. The elephant could have died due to disease. Arrested persons were lodged at Central Prison in Vellore. A probe is under way.