Elephant jockey held for extortion in Naogaon

Wildlife Management and Nature Conservation Division, Rajshahi yesterday seized an elephant and detained its jockey on charges of extorting money from people by using the animal in Mahadebpur upazila of Naogaon.

The detainee is Noor Islam.

A team, led by forester Md Amzad Hossain and local police, conducted the raid there on locals' information that the jockey was using the elephant to intimidate and force people to give money, said a government handout.

The team also found that the jockey had no licence or permit for the elephant. The animal was then sent to Rajshahi by a truck.

Noor informed that the elephant was owned by Md Atikur Rhaman of Kulaura in Moulvibazar. Another person, Mamunur Rashid, hired the elephant to show it in a circus and has been extorting money for a long time. According to the Wildlife Protection and Safety Act 2012, buying, selling and transportation of elephants require permission.