JALPAIGURI: A reputable artisan from north Bengal was arrested by the foresters on charges of smuggling animal body parts.
Sushil Kr Roy of South Dinajpur’s Kushmundi, whom the forest department arrested in the wee hours of Tuesday along with three others for allegedly trying to smuggle ivory weighing three kilo, is said to be a President’s award holder in his field. Roy also admitted that he has received several other awards from the Centre and state.
Foresters from Belokaba range office, under the supervision of ranger Sanjay Dutta, intercepted a vehicle at Jalpai More in Siliguri on late Monday night posing as potential buyers and seized the ivory. “The hefty amount we offered allured them to show the ivory to us. We caught them red-handed,” Dutta said.
But, Sushil Roy’s arrest has surprised other artisans. “Roy is not only an artisan but is also a famous mask craftsman. We wonder whether he is really involved in a smuggling racket,” said Biswajit Ghosh, another artisan from Jalpaiguri.
The forest department is confident. Officials said that they had been keeping a close watch on Roy for the past few weeks after they came to know that Roy used to hide animal body parts in the idols he would made with clay or plaster of Paris. “We came to know that Roy would hide animal body parts like rhino horn, ivory etc in his art works. Later, he used to smuggle those out. He also had a connection with poachers of the north-east. He was also involved in smuggling of gecko in the region,” an official said.
“It is very shocking that an artisan is involved in smuggling of animal body parts. Steps will be taken as per the law,” said forest minister Binoy Krishna Burman.
