Mysuru forest dept arrest gang, seize 25 kg ivory from them

Mysuru, Nov 3 (IANS) A Karnataka forest police mobile squad led by DCF A. T. Poovaiah arrested members of an ivory selling gang and seized 25 kg ivory worth about Rs 5 lakh from them.According to forest officials, the accused are identified as Prestine Silva, Jayaprakash, both from Trivandrum, Kerala as well as Mohan and Ramesh from Udayagiri, Mysuru.A total of eight pieces of ivory weighing 25 kg were seized from them. Besides, a two-wheeler used to transport the booty was also seized in the case.The accused were negotiating and demanding a price of Rs 20,000 per kg of ivory, when the forest department laid a trap, based on a tip-off. ACF Suvarna, RFO Vivek, DyRFOs Mohan, Lakshmish, Sundar, Pramod, Thushara, Sneha and Meghana, forest guards Channabasavaiah, Govinda, Ravinandan, Ravikumar and Mahantesh, drivers Madhu and Puttaswamy were a part of the team that nabbed the gang.
--IANS nbh/ash