Three held for elephant poaching in Ganjam

Berhampur: Forest officials arrested three persons for poaching an elephant and removing its tusks in Bandhagochha forest area in Ganjam district’s Ghumusar North division, 10 days ago. Two freshly-removed tusks, weighing 3.6 kg, and buried near the canal have been seizedl. The axe used to remove the tusks was also found but the mastermind is absconding. “The accused have been identified as Yubaraj Digal, 53, his son Deepak, 32, and nephew Runa, 35, of Belatun village, said Sudharashan Behera,” DFO (Ghumusar North division). tnn