Cop arrested for trying to sell ivory (India)

Author(s)

Times of India

Date Published
KOZHIKODE: The Kalpetta chief judicial magistrate court on Monday remanded a policeman to 14 days in custody for trying to sell ivory. 
 
Kalathil Jamsheer, who is attached to the police forensic department in Wayanad as constable driver, was arrested by forest officials on Sunday after the policeman surrendered at the DFO office at Kalpetta with his friend Ajnas. 
 
Jamsheer hails from Kavumandam in Wayanad. 
 
The forest intelligence wing had arrested three persons, including a woman, while they were trying to sell two elephant tusks in Kalpetta on Wednesday. 
 
Investigation revealed that Jamsheer was the kingpin of the racket. 
 
He has been charged under Section 9 and Section 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act, besides other sections of the Kerala Forest Act. 
 
The forest department has submitted a report against the policeman to the Wayanad district police chief.
 
Forest officials said that the tusks weighing 4.5 kg each belonged to a 10- year-old elephant. They suspect the animal may have died of natural causes. 
 
Tribals who had gone to the forest to collect medicinal plants had removed the tusks from the elephant’s corpse. 
 
Jamsheer purchased the tusks from the tribals and tried to sell ivory using Rasheed K, who is a resident of Kavumandam in Wayanad. 
 
Forest officials are on the lookout for two tribals and another person who escaped from the forest intelligence unit while trying to make the sale.