The Forest department arrested seven people while allegedly transporting an elephant tusk weighing around 3.5 kg at Puthanathani on Monday (August 17).

The Nilambur range flying squad and Kalikavu range office intercepted the group on the Puthanathani-Tirunavaya road based on information from the forest intelligence unit. The suspects were travelling in two cars.

Those arrested were Faisal Cholakkal from Meppadi, Wayanad; Jamsheer Tharayil and Abdul Jabbar Tharayil from Alathiyur; Shobish Vettath from Tirur; and Abdul Sameer Babu, Shameer Rayammarakkar and Zubair Neduvamcheri from Puthanathani.

The Forest department seized the tusk, two cars, a pistol and two knives. This is the second elephant tusk seizure in Kerala within a week. Six people were arrested in a similar case at Kozhikode recently.

The department is investigating the source of the tusk and those involved in the trade.