STF busts ivory smuggling racket in US Nagar; 2 held with Rs 1.5 crore haul

Rudrapur: A joint team of the Special Task Force (STF) and the forest department on Tuesday busted an alleged ivory smuggling racket in Udham Singh Nagar, arresting two accused and seizing elephant tusks worth around Rs 1.5 crore.The operation was carried out in the Kalyanpur area of the Barakoli forest range in Sitarganj following specific intelligence inputs. Acting on the tip-off, the team laid a trap and arrested Mritunjay Haldar (32) and Manik Mandal (35), both residents of Shaktifarm, who were allegedly involved in the illegal trade of wildlife parts.Officials said 7.82 kg of elephant ivory and a motorcycle used in the smuggling were recovered from their possession. SSP (STF) Ajay Singh said the action was part of an intensified statewide crackdown on wildlife crime under the direction of DGP Deepam Seth. “The seizure is significant and indicates the involvement of an organised syndicate,” he said.He added that “elephant ivory falls under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, making its trade a serious offence attracting stringent punishment”.A case has been registered at the Barakoli range, and both accused are being interrogated. Police and forest teams are probing their interstate and possible international links, with further arrests likely.