Daijiworld Media Network - Belagavi (SP)

Belagavi, Oct 12: Personnel of the city crime branch who raided a spot at Shettigalli in the city on Tuesday October 11, seized valuables including tusks, animal horns and claws, antlers etc. Antlers themselves accounted for four tonnes out of the items seized. The value of the items seized has been estimated at Rs 500 crore.

Main accused, identified as Saleem Saudagar alias Chamadewale, resident of Kotwal Galli here, stands arrested. It is gathered that Saleem used to be a trades of hydes in the past. Policemen now claim that he used to illegally stock horns, tusks, claws, tusks etc of animals and export the same to China, Gulf region and Vietnam. Penguin shells and horns of several wild animals were among the things seized. As per policemen, the accused was preparing to dispatch these items to foreign countries through Mumbai and Goa. They said that a sight at the stock in the ground floor of the house looked like a stack of firewood and therefore, no one got doubt.

As per information, Saleem resided with his family in the first floor of the house and used ground floor for illegal activities. He had taken care to see that no one got suspicion about his illegal trade. He saw to it that no third parties visited his home, and the main door of the ground floor portion of his house was always locked, and a small opening was made near the first step to the first floor, from where illegal activities of the ground floor were conducted.

Although Saleem Saudagar conducted his activities in a short distance from market police station, he took care not to attract police attention. He himself had spread the rumours that the ground floor of his house was haunted by spirits, making people fearful of approaching it, sources said.