Ivories worth Rs. 18 lakhs seized at Virajpet

Madikeri: Virajpet forest officials have arrested two persons who were trying to sell ivories. They have seized elephant ivories worth Rs. 18 lakhs.

The arrested have been identified as Annithota Raju and Kencha residents of Machur village in H.D Kote in Mysore district. Acting on confirmed information about a gang trying to sell elephant ivories police posing as buyers called the smugglers on the mobile saying they want to buy the ivories. Believing this Kencha and Raju reached D.B Kuppe in the morning around 10am on Wednesday. Police Inspector Mahesh in the disguise of buyer negotiated about the value of the ivories with burglars. Other policemen who were hiding in various places raided the smugglers and arrested them. They seized two ivories weighing 6.260kgs.

Dead elephant’s ivories

During interrogation the smugglers had revealed that they were collecting the ivories of dead elephants and selling it for big money. A case has been filed at Beechana Halli police station. The accused were produced before the court and were sent to judicial custody.

Virajpet forest officials Chinnappa, Arun Tammayya, Raju, Gunashekhar and Usman were present during the operation.