Forest officials in Kerala have apprehended a seven-member gang in Kannur district for allegedly attempting to sell tiger skin, claws, and teeth. The arrests were made on Saturday during a joint operation by the Kottiyoor Range Office and the Kannur Forest Vigilance Unit in the Kathirur area of Thalassery taluk, according to an official statement.

Acting on specific intelligence inputs, forest officials conducted a search operation in the area and apprehended the accused. In the first phase of the operation, Ashwin N. from Eruvatti, Sandesh P M, and Balan C from Cheruvanchery were arrested at Kathirur. From them, officials seized tiger skin, teeth, claws, and the scooter used to transport these items.

Further investigation, based on information gathered during questioning, led to the arrest of the remaining accused. The additional suspects were identified as Sharath K K of Kallikandi, Rajeesh Kadachi of Mangad, Vithul V K of Cheruvanchery, and Rakhil T P of Malal. An Innova car allegedly used to transport the tiger body parts was also seized.

Nithinraj T, Forest Range Officer, Kottiyoor, told PTI that the three suspects were tracked down near a school at Kathiroor in Thalassery taluk. He added that the arrested individuals had reached the spot to sell the tiger body parts.

The seized items were examined by a doctor, who confirmed that they belonged to a tiger. As part of the ongoing investigation, the items have been sent for DNA testing.

The operation was carried out by a team including Kottiyoor Range Officer Nithin Raj, Kannur Vigilance Range Officer V Jayaprakash, Beat Forest Officers Ramya K K and Vipesh B C from Tholambra Section, and Mukesh K P and Shinil C from Kannur Forest Vigilance. Kannur Vigilance Divisional Forest Officer Shajna and Aralam Wildlife Warden V Ratheeshan were also part of the team. The arrested accused were produced before the Thalassery JFCM (Judicial First Class Magistrate) Court.