Officials of the Forest Cell of the Criminal Investigation Department on Thursday raided Dharmasthala Manjunatheshwara Ayurvedic Medical College and Hospital in Hassan and recovered two elephant tusks buried within its premises.
The officials also arrested two persons in connection with the case. Based on information, a team of officers led by Deputy Superintendent of Police A.R. Balaramegowda raided the hospital and recovered the tusks.
Inquiries revealed that the tusks belonged to Ashray Neelakantappa (25), who had requested his cousin Harsha Shivakumar to help him conceal the tusks.
The police have booked Harsha (29) and his associate Rajanikantha (31) under Wildlife Protection Act and handed them over to Jurisdictional Pension Mohalla police for further investigations.
The other accused, Ashray, is presently lodged in Hassan district prison in connection with a shoot-out case in Allur police station limits.