3 tusks seized from house in Srirangam; 1 held

It is said that the accused had stocked tusks worth around Rs 2 lakh in his house reportedly waiting for potential buyers. 

Forest department sources said, that K Prabhu, a daily wager of Neduntheru in Melur village near Srirangam, was said to have received the elephant tusks a few weeks back from one of his relatives residing in Krishnagiri district. The tusks were sent to Prabhu to identify suitable buyers. 

As the district forest personnel received a tip-off about the presence of the tusks in the house of Prabhu, a team, headed by forest officer (Tiruchy range) R Ravikrishnan, on Thursday raided the house during which the tusks were seized. 

Forest sources said that the accused had kept the tusks for at least 20 days and had reportedly been serving as a dealer for the poachers who handed over the precious ivory material. Post-raid, the forest personnel booked a case against him under Wildlife Protection Act 1972. Prabhu was remanded in judicial custody for 15 days.