'Most wanted' tiger poacher held in MP; probe reveals interstate syndicate with Myanmar links

BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh Special Tiger Strike Force (MPSTSF) arrested one of the country’s most wanted tiger poachers, linked to the killing of several tigers and an interstate wildlife trafficking network with international links, officers said on Monday.

Officers arrested the accused, Battu alias Poonamlal, a resident of Katni district, on Saturday near NH-43 in Anuppur district. He was on the run for over a year. Officers said he is part of an organized poaching and trafficking syndicate across several states, including forest regions in western and southern India.

Officers suspect his role in poaching in Balaghat and in trafficking tiger skins and bones. Wildlife contraband was likely routed through Assam and Mizoram before being smuggled to markets in Myanmar, they said.

Poonamlal has been remanded in the custody of MPSTSF for seven days.

2nd autopsy of Bandhavgarh tiger conducted

A special NTCA team on Monday conducted a second autopsy on a tiger found dead inside a house in the buffer zone of Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve, preserving organ and tissue samples for forensic analysis amid allegations of tranquiliser overdose during a rescue operation.

The animal had attacked a woman and injured three villagers before being found dead on May 24. Officials said the cause of death will be confirmed after forensic reports.