The poachers told Field Director Pankaj Shukla that they had no intention to kill the tiger. They had spread out electric wire to hunt wild boar or deer, but unfortunately the tiger got ensnarled.
They got frightened and hid the tiger’s carcass in lantana shrubs. Afterwards, Devi Singh and Chotelal cut off all the four paws of the tiger with an intention to generate money, the official said.
In the meantime, the STF team reached the spot with dogs.
Alarmed by officials approaching them, Devi Singh set ablaze all the four paws at a secluded place near Banjar river at the reserve.
However, STF personnel with the help of dogs, reached the exact spot and arrested them.
Devi Singh has also shown the team the spot where they set ablaze the paws. Later, the team recovered the half burnt paws from the site, he added.
(Sourced from agencies, feature image courtesy:oneindia.com)
