MYSURU: Four persons were arrested for smuggling ivory at KG Halla which falls under Omkareshwara Forest Range.
The smugglers collected the ivory from a male tusker which was found dead naturally. The arrested are Belliappa, Bojaiah, Swamy and Basavaraju, all residents of Nanjangud.
They are habitual offenders. They used to enter the forest and smuggle sandalwood trees and other valuable trees. They noticed a male elephant dying naturally recently and collected the ivory.
Later, forest watchers who found the elephant dead informed forest officials. The officials, who found ivory missing, spread a net to catch the smugglers.
On Tuesday, Belliappa attempted to smuggle a sandalwood tree from the forest and was caught by forest officials. The officials, who noticed Beliappa wearing a ring made of elephant hair, interrogated him and he confessed to the crime.
They handed over the ivory to Subbaiah of Bheemnabeedu. Officials have seized the ivory and have arrested the four thieves.ACF Poovaiah, RFO Naveen, DFO Mylarappa and other officials cracked the case.