Elephants being smuggled from Arunachal via Assam and West Bengal border seized

With inputs from Mehtab Uddin Ahmed, story filed by Lipika Roy

DHUBRI: Yet another controversy has arisen as two elephants from Banderdewa, Arunachal Pradesh being smuggled via Assam and West Bengal border to Jamnagar in Gujarat has been seized in West Bengal yesterday night.

The elephants were being carried in a truck bearing the registration numbe (NL-02K-4034).

The elephants along with the truck were seized at West Bengal while crossing the Chagolia gate in Assam.

The elephants were being transported from Banderdewa, Arunachal Pradesh which was suspected to progress to reliance-owned 'Greens Zoological Rescue and Rehabilitation Kingdom' at Jamnagar.

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The truck along with the elephants was detained at Teesta in West Bengal with the help of West Bengal Forest Department and police personnels which was led by Deepak Chandra Deka, Dhubri Forest Officer and his team.

According to sources, the elephants were kept in a safe custody at Gorumara National Park.

Meanwhile, after meeting with officials from both Assam Forest and West Bengal Forest Department, the higher authorities of both departments decided to hand over the elephants to Assam Forest after completing all necessary procedures.

The elephants were later brought back from West Bengal and then sent to Manas National Park for further investigation into the transporting papers (TP), after which the higher authorities of the Assam Forest Department will decide whether to grant permission for transportation or not, said Deepak Chandra Deka, Dhubri Forest Officer.

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