They are native of Haripur Togiya village under the Buggawala police station of Hardwar district. Their native village is close to the boundaries of Rajaji national Park in Hardwar.

An FIR has been lodged under various sections of the Wildlife Conservation Act, 1972.

Senior Sub-inspector of Kotwali police station Pradeep Pant said police got secret information about the movement of two persons carrying deer antlers in gunny bags in Rajpur area. “They were on way to deliver the antlers to wildlife smugglers who would supply it (antlers) to international market,” Pant told the Indian Express on Kotwali PS premises. He added the seized antlers would be sent to Wildlife Institute of India for examination.

According to a press release issued by the Police, these are believed to be “Barasingha” (Swamp) and “sambhar” deer antlers.

The seizure of good quantity of antlers prompted the authorities concerned of anti-poaching cell and wildlife crime control bureau to swing into action. “They have been gathering the antlers that fall on the ground from ungulates in their natural case. But, we would investigate the case from all possible angles, including poaching of these animals,” a source in the forest department said.

Meanwhile, a joint team of police and forest department have raided several places in Hardwar to nab two persons whose names figured during the course of interrogation of both the arrested persons. “The arrested persons have named Dilshad and Bhura as their link-men in this case for making supply of the seized antlers in to the international market,” said a source in the Uttarakhand police.

On being contacted on phone, CPS Panwar, who is posted as ranger of Dhauligandi range of Rajaji Park, said he has collected required information from the police in this case. ‘We are making our all best efforts to trace the wildlife smugglers involved in this case,” he replied to a query.