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Rare Atlantic walrus tusk seized in Maha’s Ratnagiri, probe launched

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For the first time in India, the tusk of a rare Atlantic walrus was seized, from a coastal village in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri district, officials said on Thursday.

Following a confidential tip-off on August 31, Forest Department teams from Ratnagiri and Satara, along with the CI) laid a trap and nabbed three accused red-handed with the booty from Hatkhamba village.

“The three arrested are from Goa and Maharashtra. We have recovered the tusk, approximately 15-16 inches long, of an Atlantic walrus (Odobenus Rosmarus),” Honorary. Wildlife Warden Rohan Bhate, who is also Member of the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB), told IANS.

Teams of wildlife sleuths have been formed to conduct a nationwide operation to track the gang behind the Atlantic walrus ivory tusk smuggling, their associates, the buyers, etc.

Ratnagiri Range Forest Officer Priyanka Lagad said that this is the first-ever such seizure of a walrus tusk since these marine animals are found only in the icy shores of northern hemisphere, around 10,000 kms from here.

“The challenge before the investigations is to find how the tusk has reached Maharashtra, who are the other players, how big is the racket and what are its larger ramifications,” she said.

However, Lagad declined to reveal the exact quantity/weight of the large tusk, its market value and other details owing to operational reasons and to avoid alerting the others who could be involved in the crime.

Bhate said that following the interrogation of the accused trio, the teams will go to other Indian states and are likely to effect more seizures of wild creatures or their valuable organs.

As far as the atlantic walrus tusk’s valuation, most experts and wildlifers term it as “invaluable” and beyond comparison with the elephant tusks that are the favourite of ivory smugglers globally.

The accused smugglers nabbed were identified as M. Numan Yasin Naik, 42, of Permem, Goa, Hemant Suresh Kander, 38 of Kankavali and Rajan Dayal Pange, 58 of Malvan, both in Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district.

The team has also seized a car in which the tusk was being transported to an unknown location for a sale, and all the accused have been charged under the Section 49(c), of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and CITES.

Bhate said that the laws are so stringent that besides the smugglers, any dealers in such ivory brought into the country illegally, manufacturers or buyers can be booked.

The sensitive operation was carried out under the guidance of Chief Conservator of Forests, Kolhapur D. Clement Ben, Assistant Conservator of Forests Sachin Nilakh, Divisional Forest Officer Deepak Khade, Satara Forest Range Officer Sachin Dombale and other team members.

Walrus is a huge flippered, deep-diving marine mammal, weighing over two tonnes, with the tusk measuring upto one metre long, and is found only in the Arctic Ocean, the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, around the North Pole, and the sub-Arctic seas in the Northern Hemisphere.

Massive hunting had depleted the walrus populations massively in the last century but their numbers are gradually increasing with protection measures by several countries in the far north.

Crime

Mumbai Shocker! Thief Steals Mobile During Jumma Namaz In Govandi Mosque, Act Caught On CCTV

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Mumbai: witnessed a deeply unsettling incident in Baiganwadi, Govandi, where a young man was caught on CCTV allegedly stealing a mobile phone during Friday Jumma namaz at Noor e Illahi Masjid on Road No 8 on April 3, 2026.

The video, now widely shared across social media platforms, shows devotees immersed in prayer, completely unaware of their surroundings. In a matter of seconds, the accused quietly reaches into the pocket of a worshipper standing ahead of him, removes the phone, and walks away without drawing attention.

The brazenness of the act, carried out during a moment of faith and silence, has left residents disturbed. Many locals believe this may not be an isolated case and suspect the same individual could be linked to previous thefts in the area.

The incident has triggered concerns about safety even in places traditionally considered secure. Residents say the violation of trust within a place of worship has intensified unease.

While Mumbai continues to be known for its resilience and communal harmony, such incidents underline the need for vigilance and stronger security measures, even in spaces meant for peace.

In a separate case, a 20 year old woman was apprehended at Kandivali railway station on Monday morning after allegedly stealing a mangalsutra worth Rs 2 lakh from a fellow commuter.

The incident occurred around 8 am during peak hours, when heavy crowds move through Mumbai’s suburban railway network. According to reports circulating online, the accused targeted a commuter and attempted to flee after committing the theft.

However, alert commuters and authorities quickly intervened, chasing and detaining her within the station premises before she could escape.

Visuals from the scene show the woman being handcuffed by police, drawing attention from onlookers.

These back to back incidents have reignited concerns over safety in crowded public spaces. Daily commuters have long flagged theft and chain snatching as recurring issues, particularly during rush hours.

As investigations continue, many are calling for enhanced surveillance, stricter monitoring, and increased awareness to prevent such crimes in the future.

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Crime

Mumbai Crime: Session Court Denies Bail To 3 Accused In ₹63 Lakh Chawl Fraud Case

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Mumbai: The sessions court on Monday rejected the anticipatory bail of a man, his wife and son, booked by the Andheri police station on the complaint of their landlord for allegedly misusing power of attorney, transferring three rooms to their names and cheating the landlord to the tune of `63.60 lakh.

As per the case registered by the 75-year-old landlord of Sitabai Hawaldar Chawl, he had inducted Devendra Singh as a tenant in 2016.

The landlord claimed that over a period of time, Singh gained his trust and induced him to execute a General Power of Attorney on March 28, 2024. The landlord alleged that Singh began to misuse the document, taking control of the chawl and collecting rents from other occupants.

The three claimed that the complainant was in a sound state of mind when he executed the General Power of Attorney. The court, however, said, “prima-facie there is no convincing document on record to show that the informant has inducted applicants as a tenant of room voluntarily with free will.”

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Crime

Mumbai Crime: 41-Year-Old Drunk Driver Rams Car Into Traffic Constable In Andheri, Booked

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Mumbai: The Andheri police have booked an individual for allegedly driving a car into a police personnel and damaging a breath analysis machine. The incident occurred in Andheri East on Sunday. After registering a case, the police issued a notice to the accused.

According to the police, on Sunday night, Sahar traffic police personnel were deployed at Satamwadi Junction on the Andheri–Ghatkopar Link Road in Andheri East. At around 1:15 am, a car approached the junction at high speed. Constable Pritam Omase, 37, attempted to stop the vehicle.

However, the driver slowed down briefly and then tried to flee. When the police attempted to intercept the car, the driver allegedly drove the vehicle into the constable, causing injury to his right leg. The breath analysing machine fell from the constable’s hand due to the impact and was damaged.

The police eventually managed to stop the vehicle. The driver identified himself as Virender Singh, 41, a resident of Sahar village, who works with a private company.

Police personnel detected the smell of alcohol while he was speaking. Subsequently, a breath analysis test was conducted, which revealed an alcohol level of 134.9 mg per 100 ml of blood.

The injured constable was taken to Cooper Hospital in Juhu for treatment.

The police registered a case on April 5 under Section 324(3) (mischief causing loss to government or local authority) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with relevant provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act.

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