India: In a major twist to poaching cases, notorious poacher Kuttu Chiyalal Pardhi has admitted to having killed three tigers in Vidarbha region since 2013. The tigers are claimed to have been poached in Paoni and Gaimukh in Bhandara, and Seoni near Ramtek. With Kuttu`s admission, the number of tigers poached in the region during 2012-13 may well go beyond 25. Forest officials have already confirmed poaching of 15 tigers. According to forest department sources, Kuttu`s area of operation seems to be Gondia and Bhandara districts. He was also involved in laying steel traps in Wadsa (Gadchiroli) and Umarzari in 2009, now part of New Nagzira sanctuary.

The startling revelation of killing three tigers — two males from Paoni and Seoni, and a tigress in Gaimukh — came in the court of chief judicial magistrate (CJM) SB Gawande when the matter came up for hearing on Monday for extension of Kuttu`s police custody remand. Despite the serious nature of crime being probed at a crucial juncture, Kuttu`s police custody remand (PCR) was extended just by a day even though special counsel for CBI Kartik Shukul had sought its extension till March 18, during the two-hour-long arguments. Kuttu was dramatically arrested on March 4 from Biruhali in Katni (MP) and granted 12-day PCR till March 16. When he was produced in the court on Monday, high drama prevailed after the accused started crying. Earlier, several accused of poaching had resorted to similar tricks to escape custody. Kuttu, who was brought to the court amid tight security, said that three tigers were poached by him. He also blamed his absconding accomplices Luchi and Bharo for the large-scale illegal tiger skin trade. Demanding extension of PCR, CBI counsel Shukul said, "Kuttu was part of a big chain of poachers and traders. We need to take him to the spots to dig out evidence like traps, bones and other material. During the 12-day custody, we caught two more poachers and recovered animal tooth and train tickets from Bhandara area." "We are on the verge of a breakthrough and recoveries of weapons and perhaps even boned was imminent, considering the forest terrain, two days of PCR were necessary," he further argued. However, defence counsels Aniruddha Jaltare and Yogesh Satpute opposed extension of PCR as charge sheet had already been filed and statement has also been recorded. The court was not inclined to extend the PCR since 12 were already... (Source : Nyoooz)