SOLUKHUMBU: The District Forest Office (DFO) in Solukhumbu on Thursday arrested five persons on the charge of illegal possession of a bear gall bladder and hide.

They were arrested, acting on a tip off, from Kaku-2 in the district, according to Meghraj Rai, District Forest Officer.

The DFO has not made their names public, as Rai shared. Further investigation into the case was underway.

"We are investigating whether the arrested ones killed the bear themselves for the gall bladder and its hide or they bought it from others," added Rai.

As per the prevailing laws, the arrestees could be booked for the illegal trade of animal parts, and could be slapped an imprisonment from five to 15 years.