The forest authorities had been looking for a gang of poachers, who had killed a tiger and a panther, in Sariska Tigers Reserves about two years ago. They zeroed in on Ram Prasad Meena and Ramsukh and arrested them on Tuesday. Two of their accomplices are still absconding. Both these alleged poachers and their accomplices belong to Bigotha village, close to the tiger sanctuary.

According to official sources, during interogation, they confessed to poaching tigers in Sariska and also revealed some of the names on whose behalf they were operating in the forest. They have reportedly named the infamous Sansar Chandra, international gang of smugglers of tiger skins, who frequently visited the area to purchase the skins of several wild animals besides that of tiger.

They are experts in laying iron traps, the traditional technique to capture the wild animals, and then would shot them, the moment the animal falls for the trap.

Last Monday, Mr VP Singh, a BJP MP, who is head of the Special Task Force, constituted by the State Government to protect the tigers in Ranthambore and Sariska, had said that, the same gang was active in Ranthambore, which was responsible for tiger killings in Sariska.

After visiting Ranthambore with other members of the taskfore he suggested some immediate measures to save the tigers in the forest.

Meanwhile, wildlife lovers in the state have welcomed the Centre's decision to hand over the probe on the alleged tiger killings in Sariska to CBI. But at the same time , they said that at this point it was more important to take steps to save the tigers than probing the past events.