Belagavi: Acting on credible information, a huge stash of ivory, horns, nails and skin of animals, worth crores of rupees was recovered when police raided a “haunted house” at Shettigalli in the heart of Belagavi city.
The person behind the smuggling racket, Saleem Chamadewale has been arrested. According to police sources, Chamadewale spread the story that the house, which is close to his residence, was haunted and discouraged people from going near it. The police team was also dissuaded by locals from entering the house initially.
The police recovered two pairs of ivory, dozens of skins of tiger, lion, deer and leopard, deer horns, pangolin scales, and nails of tiger and lions.
Police sources have revealed that Chamadewale used to supply the items to China, Gulf countries and Vietnam via Goa. ACP Shankar Marihal said that the exact value of the recovered is yet to be ascertained, but the value could be several crores.
