CID to probe tiger poaching in Chandrapur

"We suspect the involvement of inter-state gangs in the incidents," Forests and Rehabilitation Minister Patangrao Kadam said here today.

"The report from CID is expected within three months. If required, the period would be extended to get concrete information on tiger poaching," he said.

Kadam was addressing a press conference after a review meeting with forest department officials on the issue on tiger poaching in Chandrapur, which houses the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve.

He also visited the poaching sites at Palasgaon and Borda, where two tigers were killed last month. Incidentally, MNS chief Raj Thackeray also visited these places today.

"We plan to supply power through underground cables in the forest areas. Besides, we are stepping up monitoring in the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve," the Minister said.

It is expected that underground cabling would minimise the possibility of poaching of wildlife by electrocution.

"We have recruited around 7,000 forest workers on a permanent basis who were working earlier with the department on a temporary basis," he said.

To a question on shoot-at-sight orders issued against the poachers and provision of arms and ammunition to forest personnel, Kadam said, "We have indeed issued seven pistols to the staff in buffer zone and more would be procured for the purpose in the near future."