2 detained for possessing tiger claws

Chamarajanagar/ Shivamogga: Police-forest mobile squad has detained two persons, including an autorickshaw driver, at Kollegal in Chamarajanagar for allegedly possessing tiger claws.
The forest department has taken over the probe after taking the accused into its custody.
The squad, led by PSI Muddumahadeva, caught auto driver Narayani, 33, and Nayeem Pasha, 34, both residents of Kollegal town, while they were suspiciously moving around in the auto near the town. The duo taking a sudden turn after seeing the police vehicle led to suspicion. During interrogation, they revealed that they were having two tiger claws and that they tried to flee fearing arrest.
A forest officer told TOI that following a complaint by the squad, they have taken up the case and are probing.
Police enquiries have revealed that the duo had purchased the claws from an unknown seller. Suspecting the authenticity of the claws, forest officers are seeking assistance from the wildlife institute to continue the probe.
Two held, deer meat seized
Following a rise in the number of deer deaths in the Malnad district of Shivamogga, the foresters raided Tyavarakoppa and Virupinakoppa on the outskirts of Shivamogga city and seized venison (deer meat).
Foresters of Shankara and Ayanuru forest ranges raided the twin villages near the tiger and lion safari and caught Umesh, 52, at Tyavarekoppa and Eshwar, 30, at Virupinakoppa while they were cooking venison at abandoned places. Two other accused, Yelumalai and Govindaswamy, fled the spot.
The foresters team, led by RFO Jayesh and DRFO Abdul Majeeb, recovered raw and cooked venison and utensils. The accused were produced in the court.