Overview
- Forest and police teams recovered bones believed to be from a Royal Bengal tiger during a Friday raid in Simaluguri Baligaon village under Gohpur in the Biswanath Wildlife Division of the Kaziranga landscape.
- The detainees were identified as Eilaram Doley, Ripun Pegu, Kerani Kaman, Pulish Kutum and Depen (Dipen) Pegu, according to officials.
- Forest officials said the group was attempting to sell the wildlife parts and had contacts with individuals previously involved in rhino poaching, prompting a wider trafficking probe.
- Biswanath’s divisional forest officer said the seized parts will be sent for forensic testing to confirm species and origin, and the accused claimed they collected them outside the park from a dead animal.
- One account from the divisional forest officer reported that skin was also recovered and a deal worth about ₹40 lakh was being negotiated, as Kaziranga maintains heightened anti-poaching vigilance following an October 15 gunfight with suspected poachers.