18 claws, two canines recovered

Mysore/Mysuru: In separate cases, the Mysuru Forest Mobile Squad personnel have arrested two persons who were trying to sell tiger claws and canines and have recovered 18 claws and two canines besides seizing a two-wheeler. 

In the first case, the Forest personnel, acting on a tip off, raided the spot near Hunsur, where one of the accused was trying to sell the claws and canines and arrested him besides recovering nine claws and two canines from him. The Forest staff also seized a two-wheeler used for transporting the claws and canines from him.

The accused has been identified as Shankara of K.R. Pet taluk. During interrogation, the accused is said to have revealed the name of the person, who had given him the claws and canines and also gave the officials the address of the person. But when the Forest officials went to the given address, no such person was found there.

In the second case, the Forest staff have arrested Ganesha, a tribal from Shettihalli Tribal Rehabilitation Centre at Hunsur, who was trying to sell tiger claws and recovered nine claws from him. 

During enquiry, Ganesha is said to have told the Forest staff that a person from Kodagu had given the claws to him. Here too, the accused had revealed the name of the person from Kodagu, but when the Forest staff visited the given address, they came to know that the person they had come in search of had died a few years ago.

Forest officials, who have turned down cases of poaching in both cases said that the claws and canines looked very old and added that they are investigating further. RFO Vivek, DRFOs Lakshmeesh, Nagaraj, Pramod, Sundar, Vinod, Sneha and Meghana, Forest Gaurds Channabasappa, Virupaksha, Sharanappa, Govinda, Kotresh and Ravikumar, drivers Madhu and Puttaswamy, took part in the nabbing and recovery operation.