Tiger bones seized: 3 held

Panna(MP), May 29 (UNI) Amid reports about dwindling tiger population in Madhya Pradesh, the Forest officials today arrested three people engaged in illicit trade of body parts of wild animals and recovered tiger bones from their possession.

The seizure was made at a house in the Companybagh area of this town and the raid was continuing, Forest officials said.

The raiding team, led by Panna Tiger Reserver Director G Krishna Murthy, seized bones and nails of tigers, besides horns and hides of many antelopes.

Officials, who declined to disclose the identity of the arrested, however, admitted that Nawab Khan, kingpin of the gang, went underground on being alerted about the raid.

Panna Tiger Reserve. 72 km from here, is a prominent national park in Madhya Pradesh. According to latest counts, the state's tiger population remained at less than 300.

UNI