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

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
Chadian national held at Mumbai airport with gold worth Rs 3.86 cr hidden in slippers

Mumbai, May 17: In a major crackdown on gold smuggling, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), Mumbai, arrested a Chadian national who arrived at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) from Addis Ababa, after seizing 4,015 grams of gold worth Rs 3.86 crore ingeniously concealed in the heels of his slippers.
Acting on specific Intelligence, DRI officers intercepted the male passenger shortly after his arrival in Mumbai. Upon conducting a personal search, the officers discovered multiple foreign-origin gold bars cleverly hidden inside the modified heels of the man’s slippers.
In his voluntary statement recorded by officials, the Chadian national admitted to concealing the gold in this unusual manner to bypass customs checks and evade legal detection. The gold was seized under the provisions of the Customs Act, 1962, and the passenger was placed under arrest.
Officials stated that further investigations are underway to trace the origin and intended recipients of the smuggled consignment and to determine if the incident is linked to a broader smuggling network.
This seizure adds to a growing list of recent smuggling attempts intercepted by vigilant DRI officials.
In an earlier case from April 2025, DRI Mumbai had seized foreign-origin gold worth Rs 6.30 crore from a passenger who had arrived at CSMIA from Bangkok. The gold, hidden in specially designed compartments of the passenger’s luggage, was also seized under the Customs Act, with the individual arrested immediately.
The DRI continues to maintain a strict vigil at international entry points, using a combination of Intelligence gathering and surveillance to thwart attempts at smuggling precious metals and other contraband. The agency reiterated its commitment to cracking down on such offenses, which pose a serious threat to economic stability and border security.
Crime
WBSSC recruitment case: Undeterred by baton charge, teachers gherao Bikash Bhawan again

Kolkata, May 16: A day after being baton-charged by police, the protesting teachers have assembled again, surrounding Bikash Bhavan, the West Bengal Education Department’s headquarters, on Friday morning.
Some of the protesting teachers with severe head and body injuries were also seen joining the protests.
Some of the protesters attempted to get inside the Bikash Bhavan premises by removing the barricades raised by police around the building at Salt Lake in Kolkata.
A police contingent from Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate has already reached the spot and is trying to control the situation.
The protesting teachers claimed that even if they face police assault again, they would continue with their protests till their last breath until their demands in the matter are fulfilled.
Their main demand is that the state government and West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) should immediately publish lists segregating the “untainted” or “genuine” candidates from the “tainted” ones, who had paid money for getting school jobs.
They also alleged that the state government and WBSSC are “deliberately refraining from publishing the segregated lists to protect the untainted candidates”.
The protesting “genuine” teachers started a gherao agitation on Thursday morning, cordoning off Bikash Bhavan from all sides. At around 10 p.m. on Thursday, a huge police contingent reached the spot and resorted to a massive baton charge to disperse the protesters, in which several protesting teachers were severely injured.
Although the “gherao” demonstration was dispersed, the protesting teachers assembled at a distance from Bikash Bhavan, continuing with their sit-in demonstration.
On April 3, the Supreme Court’s division bench of erstwhile Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar had upheld a previous order by the Calcutta High Court’s division bench of Justice Debangshu Basak and Justice Shabbar Rashidi cancelling 25,753 school jobs in West Bengal.
The Apex Court also accepted the observation of the Calcutta High Court that the entire panel of 25,753 candidates had to be cancelled because of the failure of the state government and the commission to segregate the “untainted candidates from the “tainted” ones.
The state government and West Bengal School Service Commission (WBSSC) had already filed review petitions at the Apex Court on this issue.
Crime
Mumbai Police Arrest 3 Men After Viral Video Shows Dangerous Car Stunt On Eastern Express Highway

Mumbai: The Mumbai Police arrested three men on Thursday after they were caught performing dangerous car stunts on the Eastern Express Highway near Chembur. Acting quickly on a viral video shared on Instagram, the RCF Police apprehended the young men for their reckless actions on road near Chembur.
The video, which attracted widespread attention, showed the driver of a white car recklessly speeding along the expressway while several men inside were seen dangerously leaning out of the moving vehicle.
The complainant in the case is Police Constable Navnath Dattu Vaikhande (34), attached to RCF Police Station, who initiated legal action based on the viral video evidence.
The arrested accused have been identified as Adnan Mohammad Isa Khan (20), taxi driver, resident of Zakir Hussain Nagar, Govandi; native of Chamroopur Pathan, District Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh, Mukim Bashir Khan (22), taxi driver, resident of Road No. 3, behind Patel Hotel, Govandi; native of Sonpur, Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh and Junaid Awad Ali Khan (20), taxi driver, also residing at Road No. 3, behind Patel Hotel, Govandi; native of Sonpur, Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh.
The footage sparked public outrage and prompted an immediate response from law enforcement. After identifying the individuals involved, the RCF Police Station registered a case under Section 281 (Rash driving or riding on a public way), Section 125 (Negligent conduct), and Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Section 184 of the Motor Vehicles Act, which pertains to driving dangerously.
A video shared by the Mumbai police highlights dangerous activities by drivers and others. In the video, a group of people can be seen engaging in risky behaviour by hanging out of moving cars on the road, endangering their own lives and the lives of others, all while loud music plays.
The arrested individuals are currently in custody, and further investigations are ongoing to identify others involved in the stunt. Authorities are also probing whether the vehicle was rented or privately owned. This incident serves as a reminder of the risks associated with irresponsible behaviour on the road and the serious consequences that can follow.
Many users reacted to the post shared by the Mumbai Police. One user asked about the other accused, saying, “Only 3 were arrested? Where are the others?” On the other hand, another user expressed appreciation for the Mumbai Police, stating, “Thank you, Mumbai Police, for not turning Mumbai into Delhi Part 2.”
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