5 September 2008

An international racket of trade in tiger parts has been unearthed by the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau leading to the arrest of three alleged poachers.

The racket, having connections with Narayan, brother of jailed poacher Sansarchand, was busted during a five-month long operation in four north Indian states.

Three key members -- Dariya, Pema Gytso, Omprakash -- were arrested from different states during last five months. The latest arrest was of Omprakash on Monday in Haldwani, Uttarakhand.

During separate interrogation sessions, WCCB officials came to know about the involvement of Narayan.

"Although some members including Bheema and Narayan are still absconding but information revealed by the accused has given us complete movement details of poachers and traders of tiger parts," WCCB Deputy Director R K Pandey told reporters.

The first arrest was made on April 29 in Bijrani range of Corbett Tiger Reserve. The accused Dariya was caught in the protected area while he was trying to set a trap.

Later, Uttar Pradesh police arrested a group of people from Najeebabad on June 10 with iron traps. During questioning both the accused said they worked for Bheema Bawaria.

On a tip-off from Wildlife Protection Society of India, WCCB raided Bheema's house in Rajendra Park police station area of Gurgaon on July 7.

They recovered one complete skeleton of tiger, penis, two testicles, tiger fat, two cheetal horns and a number of traps from the house but Bheema escaped.

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