VALPOI: The officials of forest department on Tuesday recovered missing nails of one of the four tigers, who was killed in the Mhadei wildlife sanctuary adjacent to Golavli village a fortnight ago. Claws of first tiger was missing which was found dead on January 5, was found in the premises of Kelbai Temple in Golavli, Sattari. When the village priest went for prayers he found two suspicious packet inside the temple and he immediately informed forest officials, who later called the Valpoi police.
Investigating officer Nandkumar Parab said, "On Tuesday morning they received a call from priest of Kelbai Temple from Golavli who found two packets inside temple in suspicious manner. He immediately informed forest department and when our team reached there, at first instance it looked like claws from outside but I called Valpoi PI Shivram Vaigankar who also brought sniffer dog to nab the offenders but were unable to trace them. Later when we opened these packets we found it to be tigers claws, which was found missing during panchanama of the first tigress found dead in the Mhadei wildlife century." "We have conducted panchanama of Tuesday's incident and have taken claws into our custody, and are in process to investigate with suspects. Further investigation is on," he said. It may be recalled that four tigers including three cubs were found dead in Mhadei wildlife sanctuary earlier this month following which five villagers of Pawne family were arrested. The accused had reportedly poisoned the wild cats after they killed their livestock at Golavli village. On Tuesday morning, 15 nails of one of the tiger were missing, which were found bundled and kept in a bag inside the Kelbai Temple in the village.