The price of the two skins is pegged at Rs 30 lakh in the international market.
The three accused, all residents of Chhindwara, have been identified as Matin Mohammed Khan (35), Salim Khan (49) and Avinash Bavetra alias Bittu (31). Matin is the forest guard and secretary of employees union, while Salim is his relative. Both Salim and Avinash are property dealers.
Acting on a tip-off, a team under Seoni subdivisional police officer (SDPO) Siddartha Bahuguna laid a trap by sending in bogus customers to meet the accused. The arrested trio was arrested in Seoni for trying to sell one of the skins for Rs 4 lakh.
“During interrogation, they confessed to having one more tiger skin in their possession. We sent
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