The Forest Department has apprehended two people from Kil Kotagiri in the Nilgiris after they were allegedly caught with two pieces of elephant tusks.
While one of the accused, identified as Shivakumar from Sholur Mattam, has been arrested, another individual has been detained in connection with the incident, officials stated.
According to the officials, the case relates to an offence registered in Pudukottai, where six men were arrested for being in possession of elephant tusks. They were arrested a few days ago for allegedly smuggling tusks from the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border. They had brought the tusks for sale to Pudukottai when a team of Forest Department staff intercepted them.
During inquiries, they had revealed the role of another individual, Shivakumar, who was arrested by the Nilgiris forest division. Officials confirmed that another person has also been detained and that two tusks have since been recovered from their possession.
Speaking to The Hindu, Kashyap Shashank Ravi, Divisional Forest Officer (Nilgiris division), said that investigations into the alleged smuggling ring were ongoing. He said that the location from where the tusks were collected and the circumstances under which they were collected were still being investigated by the Forest Department.
They said that one of the individuals who has been arrested in connection with the case in the Nilgiris will be produced before a judge and remanded to judicial custody.
Published – July 30, 2026 04:24 pm IST
