Wildlife officers from the Kahatagasdigiliya Wildlife Range Office have taken a 34-year-old former Civil Defence officer into custody. The arrest was made following inquiries into a tragic incident where an elephant was discovered dead and missing its tusk in the Kumbukwewa area in Kahatagasdigiliya.
Authorities suspect that the man was directly involved in cutting off the dead animal's tusk.
Weapons and Tools Recovered
Following the arrest, wildlife officers carried out searches at the suspect's home and his cultivation hut. They discovered a shocking cache of items, including a homemade firearm, gunpowder with accessories, an elephant deterrent explosive, and an explosive device allegedly assembled using petrol.
Officers also seized a curved knife, several pieces of timber believed to have been gathered from where the tusker was found, and a metal-cutting hacksaw. Wildlife officials suspect this very hacksaw was used to saw off the tusk.
Remanded by Court
The suspect was produced before the Kahatagasdigiliya Magistrate's Court today (05). The magistrate ordered that he be remanded until November 18.
Wildlife authorities confirmed that further investigations into the elephant's death are still ongoing.
