Seven held with elephant tusk in Malappuram

The Forest department has arrested seven people for allegedly transporting an elephant tusk weighing about 3.5 kg at Puthanathani in Malappuram district. The Nilambur range flying squad and Kalikavu range office intercepted the group on the Puthanathani-Tirunavaya road based on intelligence inputs. The suspects were travelling in two cars.

Those arrested include Faisal Cholakkal from Meppadi, Jamsheer Tharayil and Abdul Jabbar Tharayil from Alathiyur, Shobish Vettath from Tirur, and Abdul Sameer Babu, Shameer Rayammarakkar and Zubair Neduvamcheri from Puthanathani. The Forest department seized the tusk, two cars, a pistol and two knives. This is the second seizure of an elephant tusk in Kerala within a week, six people were arrested in a similar case at Kozhikode recently.

The department is investigating the source of the tusk and those involved in the illegal trade.