Darjeeling: The Special Task Force led by Sanjay Dutta, Ranger, Belakob range seized 1.2 kg of ivory from the possession of two persons on the Bengal-Assam border. The duo have been arrested and forwarded to the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, Jalpaiguri, on Monday. "While the ivory has been recovered, specific leads were obtained regarding the rhino horn," said Ganga Chettri, chief conservator of forest (Northern Circle.)
Based on source information that a deal in contraband items was to take place in the National Highway 31 C at Srirampur on the Bengal Assam border, the STF kept a close watch on the area since the night of November 10. Around 7 am, on Monday, 4 persons were seen in close bargain beside a vehicle bearing Bhutan registration number. Seeing the STF personnel, two persons ran into the nearby forest. The two others were apprehended. A shoppers bag containing a piece of tusk weighing 1.2 kg was recovered from their possession. The ivory was seized and the duo arrested. The arrested have been identified as Rabindra Basumatary (56) of Ranikhata, Chirang district, Assam and Gem Dorji (65) of Kawang, Thimpu, Bhutan. The duo have confessed that they had handled a freshly cut rhino horn, which is ready for sale, but the sellers had returned as the price had not been negotiated.