Two held with elephant tusks

Haridwar, Jul 2 (PTI) Two suspected wildlife organ smugglers were arrested and elephant tusks recovered from their possession at the Chilla range of Rajaji Park, official sources today said. The two were arrested last evening from the Chandi bridge area when a team of forest department officials stopped them for checking following a tip-off and recovered the two tusks from their bag, they said. The accused, identified as Gopal, a resident of Hathras in Uttar Pradesh and Sudama, hailing from Doiwala area near Dehra Dun, were going to sell the tusks for Rs 30,000 to a trader in Haridwar when they were arrested. During interrogation, the duo told the forest team that they did not kill elephants and they found the tusks from the bank of Pili river near Haridwar. The accused have been booked under the Wildlife Protection Act.