Three poachers held, parts of tiger carcass seized

Three persons, wanted in several cases of wild life poaching and smuggling in Maharashtra, were arrested and parts of a tiger carcass worth several crores of rupees in the international market were seized from their possession, police said today.
Acting on a tip-off, two of the accused, Suraj Bhan and Naresh were arrested yesterday by a team of Delhi Police Crime branch, Forest Conservative Department, Maharashtra and Wild Life Crime Control Bureau near Chandgi Ram Akhara area, they said.
The team had inputs that the duo would be coming in a car near the GTK by-pass via ISBT Kashmiri Gate to hand over the items to Surajpal.

Later, on their directions, Surajpal was nabbed and Rs 50 lakh in cash and tiger nails were recovered from his house in Adarsh Nagar, police said.
"After the arrest of Sansar Chand, the notorious poacher, in 2005, Bhan's gang became active in this possession, while Surajpal alias Chacha has been in this trade for more than 20 years," said Ravindra Yadav, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime).
During interrogation, Bhan and his aide Naresh confessed to have purchased the animal's carcass parts, consisting of skull, nails and bones, from a herdsman from Nagina in Uttar Pradesh, and were to deliver the items to Surajpal.

"They are also involved in several cases of wild life poaching and smuggling in Maharashtra. Two cases have been registered this year at Amrawati and Nagpur in Maharashtra.
"Malghat sanctuary is reportedly affected by their activities," said Yadav.
Meanwhile, a case under various sections of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 has been registered against them, he added.