Digboi: A case of organised ivory poaching has come to light in Lakhipathar under the Digboi Forest Division in Assam’s Tinsukia district, raising fresh concerns over enforcement gaps and the vulnerability of elephants in the region.
The latest victim is Mangal Singh, an aged domesticated tusker believed to be among the oldest in the district. Owned by a resident of Margherita, the elephant had been stationed in the Lakhipathar area for grazing over the past two years with prior intimation to the Forest Department.
Officials said the animal was attacked on April 15 while it was tied inside the forest. The assailants allegedly sawed off both tusks and fled, leaving the tusker critically injured. The delay in immediate medical intervention has drawn criticism and pointed to lapses in emergency response mechanisms.
The incident is the latest in a series of similar cases reported from the Lakhipather Forest Range under the Upper Dehing Reserve Forest (East). In an earlier case, a tusker was electrocuted before its tusks were removed, indicating a pattern of targeted poaching involving planning and familiarity with terrain and animal movement.
Although arrests were made in that case and stolen ivory was recovered following a prolonged operation, officials acknowledge that the recurrence of such incidents suggests that larger networks involved in illegal ivory trade remain active.
Observers have also pointed to a coincidence in the timing of these incidents with recent administrative changes. The earlier case surfaced soon after the transfer of a divisional forest officer, while the present incident has occurred within days of another such transfer. The recent movement of key field-level officials, including a range officer involved in anti-poaching operations, has further raised concerns over continuity in surveillance.
A similar incident last year involved the electrocution of an elephant in a nearby tea garden, followed by the removal of its tusk. While forest officials later recovered the ivory, the persistence of such crimes indicates continuing challenges in dismantling the supply chain driving illegal trade.
Experts note that the incidents reflect a consistent modus operandi involving the targeting of tuskers with large ivory, use of immobilisation methods, and swift extraction and removal of tusks. The pattern suggests the involvement of organised groups rather than isolated acts.
The repeated targeting of Lakhipathar and adjoining forest areas has raised questions about whether the region has emerged as a vulnerable corridor for poaching activities. Concerns have also been expressed over delays in response and the lack of visible deterrence despite existing legal safeguards.
The current Divisional Forest Officer, who assumed charge of the Digboi Forest Division recently, is yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
Local residents and wildlife observers have called for stronger enforcement measures, including improved surveillance, intelligence-based operations, and sustained efforts to curb organised poaching networks.
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