Uttarakhand STF Nabs Interstate Wildlife Smugglers with Elephant Tusks

The Uttarakhand Special Task Force (STF) arrested three interstate wildlife smugglers, recovering two elephant tusks. The operation occurred in Haridwar district, where suspects from Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand were apprehended. Previously, one had murder charges, and another faced Forest Act violations.

Dehradun, Jul 28 (PTI) The Uttarakhand Special Task Force (STF) succeeded in arresting three members of an interstate gang involved in wildlife smuggling, recovering two elephant tusks from their possession.

STF Senior Superintendent of Police Ayush Aggarwal announced on Sunday that the arrests were made during a joint operation with the Terai Central Forest Division Rudrapur and Shyampur Police in Haridwar district.

The suspects, identified as Gautam Singh and Chandan Singh from Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, and Jitendra Saini from Shyampur, Uttarakhand, were apprehended with tusks weighing seven kilograms each.

Aggarwal added that Gautam Singh had a previous arrest for murder, while Jitendra Saini had been charged under the Forest Act. The STF chief said that investigations were ongoing to determine the specifics of their poaching activities, including the location and timing of the elephant hunt.