Rourkela: A special team of the forest department went for information while the deal for the sale of ivory was going on in K. Balang area of Sundargarh district. While 2 ivory tusks have been seized from there, 10 people have been detained by the forest department. One of the seized tusks is 24 inches long and the other is 22 inches long.
Its estimated market value will be more than 4 lakh rupees. The arrested smugglers buried two tusks in the soil. After getting information, the forest team raided the village and dug out two teeth buried in the soil. Rourkela Forest Department got secret information about dealings for sale of ivory in K. Balang area late at night. A special team of the department took the staff of Banki Forest Range and raided there.
However, it is assumed that some more people are involved in the gang. In this regard, no information has been given by the forest department. In the last two years, a deer was killed in the forest of Bariburu in Bankirange and two teeth were removed. The forest team reached the spot and seized the dead body of the elephant. From the autopsy report, it was clear that the elephant was killed and its teeth were cut. Therefore, the tusks seized today are believed to belong to the two killed elephants. After the seizure of ivory, the special team of the forest department has intensified the search in the local area.
