17 September 2007

Notorious tiger poacher Lakshman Singh Pardhi was arrested this afternoon in a joint operation of the Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh Forest Departments.

Acting on information provided by the Wildlife Protection Society of India, the team arrested Pardhi from Chanera, District Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh.

Pardhi, a resident of Betul district, has seven cases pending against him in Melghat Tiger Reserve, all involving Schedule I species such as tigers and leopards. There are two other cases against him in South Betul division as well. Pardhi and his wife are also known to have visited Delhi-based skin trader Sansar Chand in the past.