14 hours ago
DNA profiling to verify origin of tusks seized from five persons near Valparai
The Forest Department has collected samples from the remains of an elephant from Valparai forest range limits for a DNA profiling, to verify the origin of a pair of tusks that was seized from five persons, including two frontline staff of the Anamalai Tiger Reserve (ATR), on Saturday (June 21, 2025).
Devendra Kumar Meena, Deputy Director of Pollachi Division of ATR, told The Hindu that the Department traced the skeletal remains of an elephant to a dense forest area at Kavarkal in Valparai range, based on the confessions of the accused.
As per their statement, they collected the tusks from a dead elephant from a forest area at Kavarkal a year ago. The accused claimed that the carcass was around one-year-old when the tusks were collected.
'We collected all the remains of the elephant that were found at the place and assembled them. The entire remains and the area were carefully examined. Samples were collected from the remains for a DNA profiling to check whether the tusks seized from the accused indeed belonged to the elephant, remains of which were found at Kavarkal,' said Mr. Meena.
P. Manikandan, 47, P. Raja, 39, and D. Devabala, 31, from Thaimudi estate near Valparai, forest watcher D. Premdass, 29, and Anti-Poaching Watcher (APW) V. Raman, 35, attached to Valparai range were arrested with the pair of tusks on Saturday. They were arrested by a team from the Manambolly forest range near Valparai, based on specific information. The accused were remanded in judicial custody at the Pollachi sub-jail.
Premdass had served as an APW with the Department for several years and he was appointed as a regular staffer of the rank of forest watcher in April this year. Raman has worked as an APW, which is a temporary post, for around 10 years.
Following the arrest , the Department removed Raman from his temporary post. It placed Premdass under suspension as a disciplinary action. Further action against him would be initiated after an investigation, Mr. Meena said.
'We will also seek the custody of the accused for further investigation in the case,' he added.
