Kerala shocker: 7-member gang arrested for attempting to sell tiger skin, claws, and teeth in Kannur

KANNUR: A seven-member gang was arrested in Kerala’s Kannur district for allegedly attempting to sell tiger skin, teeth and claws, officials said on Saturday.The arrests were made during a joint operation by the Kottiyoor Range Office and the Kannur Forest Vigilance Unit in the Kathirur area of Thalassery taluk.Acting on specific intelligence inputs, forest officials conducted a search operation in the area and apprehended the accused, according to an official statement.In the first phase, Ashwin N. from Eruvatti and 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—Sharath K K of Kallikandi, Rajeesh Kadachi of Mangad, Vithul V K of Cheruvanchery, and Rakhil T P of Malal—the statement said.An Innova car used to transport the tiger body parts was also seized.The operation was conducted by a team comprising Kottiyoor Range Officer Nithin Raj, Kannur Vigilance Range Officer V Jayaprakash, Beat Forest Officers Ramya K K and Vipesh B C of the Tholambra section, and Mukesh K P and Shinil C from the Kannur Forest Vigilance unit.Kannur Vigilance divisional forest officer Shajna and Aralam Wildlife Warden V Ratheeshan also took part in the operation.All the arrested accused were later produced before the Thalassery Judicial First Class Magistrate (JFCM) Court.(With agency inputs)