The probe into the elephant poaching case at Idamalayar has led to the arrest of three more persons.
The accused have been identified as Laxmanan, his wife Ambika, and Shaija, all hailing from Muvattupuzha in Ernakulam district. They were taken into custody following a search at their residences on July 18.
Officials said Lakshman is the brother-in-law of Aikkaramattom Vasu, the key accused in the case. “The ivory trade was taking place from Laxman’s home, where clients from Thiruvananthapuram used to camp for a couple of days. Shaija was a close aid of Vasu, who acted as an intermediary between the traders and poachers,” officials said. The sleuths also recovered Vasu’s mobile phone from Shaija’s residence. Further, they have also established a link between poachers and the arrested by tracing their call details. The racket is said to have traded about nine set elephant tusks from the poachers operating in the Athirappilly, Vazhachal and Idamalayar forests.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/elephant-poachers-held/article7442589.ece