STF nabs forest guard for killing Pench tigress and cubs

Bhopal: Special Task force (STF) of Madhya Pradesh forest department on Thursday arrested a forest guard from Seoni district for killing tigress and two cubs at Pench National Park.
Accused Vipin Varmiya, 37, was posted in the buffer zone near the park's Turia gate. This is the fifth arrest in the case. He reportedly was among the group which used to poison water bodies in buffer zones to poach spotted deer.Varmiya had been doing this for last many months. He is being interrogated for ascertaining number of animals he had killed in the recent past. STF officials said his statement has been recorded.
Last week Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Sagar, had detected presence of endosulfan, a toxic pesticide, in samples collected from the carcass of tigress and her two cubs found dead in Pench Tiger Reserve on March 28.
Traces of pesticide were found in samples of water collected from pools around the protected area as well as the deer these tigers had consumed. A bounty of Rs 25,000 announced by the forest department for clues on poachers worked. The forest guard was arrested on a tip-off from local villagers, said sources. Investigators believe use of pesticides for killing deer and fishing is the reason behind death of tigers.