High-Value Elephant Tusks Stolen from Kerala Army Camp, 17 Detained
In a shocking incident at a high-security military facility, two elephant tusks with an estimated value of around Rs 2 crore have been reported stolen from an Army officers' institute located inside the Pangode Military Camp in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The theft has triggered a comprehensive police investigation into the security breach, with authorities detaining 17 individuals for questioning.
Details of the Theft and Police Response
The First Information Report (FIR) was registered at the Poojappura police station based on a complaint filed by an officer from the Indian Army's Madras Regiment. The case has been officially registered under Sections 331(4), which pertains to house trespass, and 305(3), which deals with theft in sensitive locations, as per the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
According to police sources, the tusks were part of a heritage collection displayed inside the officers' mess. They went missing between February 11 and 12. The theft was discovered following a DJ party held on the premises from Wednesday night into Thursday morning. Defence authorities have informed the police that 17 or 18 civilians were granted entry to arrange lighting and sound for this event.
Historical Significance and Security Concerns
The stolen tusks hold significant historical value, having been handed over to the Army by the then state government in 1929. They had been preserved at the institute ever since. Krishna Murthy, the defence Public Relations Officer for Kerala, confirmed that civilians were only allowed entry for event arrangements and that the matter has been promptly reported to the police.
A police source emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, "Since it is a highly secure location with restricted access, suspicion falls on those who entered the camp for the programme as well as insiders. CCTV footage from within and near the camp is being examined." This highlights the dual focus of the investigation on both external and internal suspects.
Investigation and Detentions
Based on information provided by officials at the military camp regarding the outsiders who entered for the DJ party, police have taken 17 persons from various parts of Thiruvananthapuram into custody. Additionally, a separate case has been registered to keep these suspects in preventive detention as part of the ongoing investigation.
Officers at the Poojappura police station have confirmed that interrogation of those detained is currently underway. They stressed that a detailed probe is essential to recover the missing ivory, given its high value and the sensitive nature of the location.
Legal Context: Ivory Ban and Regulations
The theft brings attention to strict legal frameworks surrounding ivory in India. Key points include:
- Ivory is classified as a Schedule 1 wildlife article and is considered government property.
- Possession, transfer, and sale of ivory are banned under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
- Ownership is only permitted with a mandatory government certificate, but this can be overridden by the Wildlife Act.
- These rules aim to protect individuals who may own ivory as part of an heirloom, though such ownership is not encouraged.
- Courts have previously prevented attempts to regularize unauthorized possession.
- For captive elephants, tusk trimming requires strict permission and supervision from the wildlife department.
- Ivory seized and stored in forest department strong rooms must be incinerated as per central government orders.
- Defence forces had sought forest department permission for safekeeping and displaying ivory at their camps and offices.
This incident underscores the challenges in securing valuable heritage items even within high-security environments, while also highlighting the stringent laws designed to protect wildlife and regulate ivory.
