7 claws recovered; mobile phone, 11 SIM cards seized

Mysore/Mysuru: The Mysuru Forest Mobile Squad personnel have arrested a man while he was attempting to sell tiger claws on N. Begur-H.D. Kote Road on Feb. 4. The Forest personnel have recovered seven tiger claws besides seizing one mobile phone and 11 SIM cards from the accused.

The accused is Venkatesh, a resident of Mallur village in H.D. Kote taluk, while his accomplice Swamy, a resident of Gandathur village, fled from the spot and is absconding. The Forest officials have launched a hunt to nab the absconding accused.

Forest officials said that the accused during interrogation revealed that as the claws had huge demand in black market and to make quick money, he had committed the crime.

Tiger claws are most often inlayed in gold to make pendants for necklaces. Local people believe that tiger claws provide good luck and give protective powers to those who wear them. A Forest officer said that usually, tiger nails are collected from dead animals by poachers or local forest dwellers and trading is done in the most primitive ways. The claws are secretly transferred from hand to hand and maybe from district to district. People should become aware of the fact that it is illegal to wear ornaments made out of tiger claws.

Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) and Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) guided the staff of Mysuru Forest Mobile Squad in the nabbing and seizing operation.