The CID forest squad nabbed a gang accused of smuggling tiger pelt, in Kollegal on Thursday. The arrested are Gowdalli Ramesh, Kollegal Rajashekar, Abbas and Chandru.
Somanna of Amekaradoddi in Yalandur taluk, said to be the prime accused, is absconding.
Tipped-off that a gang had poisoned a tiger to death six months ago and were trying to to sell its pelt for Rs 40 lakh, the squad led by sub-inspector Mahesh nabbed the gang on Mysore Road.
The pelt and claws were seized. It is learnt that Somanna had stored the pelt at his house after processing it. S P Ashok A Anwekar of Madikeri CID forest squad also assisted the squad.
Sub-inspector Mahesh and staff, Prakash, Ningaraju, Srikanta, Ravi, Ningarajappa, Jayashankar, Harish and Raghavendra were part of the operation.
Published 19 October 2012, 19:04 IST