Reported by Laxman sharma
Digboi: In a decisive crackdown on wildlife crime, forest officials of the Digboi Division have arrested two key accused in connection with the brutal elephant ivory chopping incident reported on April 14 at Dhulijan under the Lakhipathar Forest Range in Assam’s Tinsukia district.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Saurav Moran (28) of Dhulijan and Pradip Gorh (22) of Ketetong under Margherita Police Station. Moran was reportedly the caretaker of the elephant from which the ivory was illegally extracted.
The arrests come after an intensive and sustained operation by forest personnel, which is being widely lauded within official circles for its precision and evidence-based approach. Investigators relied heavily on digital and forensic leads to crack the case.
According to sources, Moran had contacted Gorh on March 28, 2025, and allegedly arranged for a portion of the ivory tusk to be cut from the elephant, paying him Rs 400 as labour charges.
The investigation further revealed that in a subsequent incident on April 14, the same tusk was completely chopped off from the base, indicating a deliberate and repeated act.
Officials involved in the operation stated that the accused had recorded and photographed the tusk prior to chopping it using a sharp hacksaw blade, with the collected digital and photographic evidence firmly linking them to the crime.
“Following sustained interrogation and the emergence of credible evidence, both accused were apprehended and produced before the Margherita Court,” a senior source from the division stated.
Investigators now suspect that the chopped ivory may have already been funneled into a larger organised wildlife smuggling network. Sources indicated that the arrested individuals are believed to be part of a broader trafficking chain, the full extent of which is yet to be uncovered.
Officials involved in the operation described the duo as “habitual offenders” with suspected links to illegal wildlife trade networks.
While the arrests mark a major breakthrough, the department faces formidable challenges ahead, most notably the recovery of the ivory, as several days have elapsed since the incident. Officials admitted that tracing the contraband within a suspected organised network remains a complex task.
At the same time, sources confirmed that the investigation is being closely monitored at the highest level by the office of the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), underscoring the seriousness of the case and adding momentum to efforts aimed at dismantling the wider network.
Forest officials indicated that further arrests are imminent based on disclosures made during interrogation. The accused are likely to be taken into remand for deeper questioning as the probe intensifies.
A case (LKP/02/2026-27 dated April 16, 2026) has been registered at Lakhipathar Range under stringent provisions of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, including Sections 9, 40, 44, 48A, 49, 49B, 51, and 52, which deal with illegal possession, trade, transport, and organised trafficking of wildlife articles such as ivory, carrying severe penalties including imprisonment and fines.
Meanwhile, sources revealed that the ownership status of the elephant remains “complicated and unclear.” Notably, Pradip Gorh had earlier served as a mahout of the same elephant under the ownership of the late Lakheswar Dwaniya of Ketetong.
With the investigation gaining momentum, officials remain focused on recovering the contraband and exposing the full extent of the smuggling network.