Four held with spotted tiger skin and bones

Police held four suspected persons with the skin and bones of a spotted tiger in Kohalpur of Banke.

The police team from Lumbini Province Investigation Bureau and Area Police Office, Kohalpur arrested them in possession of a piece of skin and six kilograms and 818 grams of tiger bones from Kohalpur-11, Hamrobazar.

The arrestees are Prabin Kumar KC, 33, of Bhagawati rural municipality-5, of Dailekh Sunil Chunara, 30, of Thantikandh rural municipality-4 of Dailekh, Lokendra Shahi, 36, of Panchandewal rural municipality-2 of Achham and Karana Bahadur Rokaya, 52, of Barkot rural municipality of Jajarkot.

According to Forest Officer at the Division Office Banke, Ajit Kumar Karna, the skin and bones are of an adult female tiger.

The tiger skin seized from the suspect is 9.8 inches long. As the skin shows there are two bullet-made holes in the tiger's neck. Investigation was underway to find out the recovered bones of the jungle cat.

As per the Clause 26 (1) of the National Park and Wildlife Conservation Act, 2029 BS, those found guilty in such crime will either face 15-year jail term or penalty ranging from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh or both, Karna added.

The Division Forest Office was carrying out an investigation into the case.