STF team has arrested 11 people in connection with tiger poaching in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra. Along with this, STF has also detained five minors. STF has seized tiger nails from them. An official gave this information on Monday.
The STF, comprising personnel from Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) and Gadchiroli Forest Department, nabbed six men, five women and five minors on Sunday, the official said. According to a release issued by the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve, the STF, with the help of local police, conducted a raid in Ambeshivani area of Gadchiroli and seized animal traps and three tiger nails.
It said that on the basis of information received from the accused, some more suspects have been detained from Dhule district of Maharashtra and the neighboring state of Telangana. A case has been registered against the accused under the provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and further investigation is underway, the release said. With these arrests, the Forest and Police Department has busted a tiger poaching racket operating in Gadchiroli and Chandrapur districts of Maharashtra and Telangana, the release said.