The Uttarakhand Forest Department has suspended the Lalढांग range officer and a former store officer after 5 elephant tusks weighing 35.045 kilograms went missing from a store in the Lansdowne Forest Division.

Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Head of Forest Force Kapil Lal ordered the suspension of range officer Anurag Joshi and former store-in-charge deputy ranger Bhagwat Prasad Bhadoला. The suspension orders have reached the Lansdowne Forest Division.

The action followed an internal inquiry into the missing tusks. A 4-member committee was formed under Haridwar Divisional Forest Officer Swapnil Anirudh. The committee submitted its report to the forest conservator on 6 November.

Officials said the decision was based on the inquiry report and statements recorded from the officers concerned. The current store in-charge, forest inspector Virendra Singh, had already been suspended in the case.

Computer operator receives notice

The departmental inquiry committee also treated the role of computer operator Hemant Kumar as suspicious. Kumar was working in the range through Upnal.

Based on the committee’s observations, DFO Tarun S. issued him a notice. However, the committee did not give clear directions on action against the Upnal worker.

The departmental proceedings are separate from the police investigation into the missing tusks. The available information does not establish the final responsibility of any person.

Police search for second accused

A joint team of police and forest officials is looking for the companion of the arrested accused. Police have conducted searches at several locations, including Gaिंदikhata, but the suspect has not been found.

Police said they expect the missing tusks’ whereabouts to become clearer after the absconding suspect is arrested and questioned. The suspect, who is from Gaინდikhata, is reportedly avoiding arrest.

Police suspect that the tusks may be with him or that he may have sold them to another person. Kotdwar police are using surveillance and other methods to trace him.

Police arrested Van Gujjar Ghulam Mustafa, also known as Nanu, 2 days before the report. During questioning, Nanu allegedly identified the role of another associate as important to the case. The allegation remains part of the ongoing investigation.

Case transferred to Kotdwar

The case was initially registered at Yamkeshwar police station on 1 November 2026. The complaint was filed by Sudhir Kumar, sub-divisional forest officer of the Lansdowne Forest Division.

After the investigation established that the alleged incident took place within the Kotdwar Kotwali area, the case was transferred to Kotdwar Kotwali for further action.

Police have taken action against the arrested accused under provisions related to theft, criminal trespass, the Wildlife Protection Act and the Forest Act. The police and forest department’s joint team is examining other aspects of the case.

Conclusion

The forest department has suspended 3 officials at different stages of the case and issued a notice to a computer operator. Police are continuing the search for the arrested accused’s alleged companion, whose questioning may help establish what happened to the 35.045 kilograms of missing elephant tusks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. How many elephant tusks are missing?

The case involves 5 elephant tusks weighing 35.045 kilograms.

Q. Where did the tusks go missing?

They went missing from the store of the Lalढांग range in the Lansdowne Forest Division.

Q. Which forest officials were suspended?

Range officer Anurag Joshi and former store-in-charge deputy ranger Bhagwat Prasad Bhadoला were suspended. Current store-in-charge forest inspector Virendra Singh had already been suspended.

Q. Who was arrested in the case?

Police arrested Van Gujjar Ghulam Mustafa, also known as Nanu. Police are searching for his alleged companion.

Q. Where is the case being investigated?

The case was transferred from Yamkeshwar police station to Kotdwar Kotwali after the alleged incident was linked to the Kotdwar Kotwali area.