The gang of poachers, wanted in killing of tigers in Vidarbha, were present near Katni at their native places, but all of them dodged WCCB sleuths trailing them since Holi. Of the 56 wanted poachers, 21 have been arrested by state forest officials and 35 are on the run.

If these poachers are arrested, they may confirm the number of tigers actually poached in the region between 2012-13. TOI has earlier reported this figure may be over 20.

Despite a cyber cell at Amravati, the action against poachers has almost stopped over four months. The last poacher arrested by Amravati forest team was Ranjitsingh Bawaria from Andhra Pradesh on December 12.

Intelligence reports had said the big names in poaching had gathered for Holi in forest areas adjoining three to four villages near Katni. The WCCB team trailed them with the help of local policemen for 10-15 days, but failed to nab them. Finally, the WCCB team returned to Delhi empty-handed.

Additional director of WCCB SB Negi confirmed that its team had been to Katni to collect information about poachers who gather during Holi. "It was not an operation against poachers as such," Negi added.

However, sources said the poachers dodged WCCB sleuths since they knew they were being trailed. The poachers hid in the forest, away from their native places, and were supplied food by relatives.

"They used to flee at the slightest suspicion or movement of vehicles," said sources, adding the poachers are still holed up near Katni but it is difficult to nab them as they are surrounded by women and relatives.

On Wednesday, there was a clash between two groups of poachers, in which a woman community leader was injured. The groups hurled stones at each other. Policemen who reached the spot failed to intervene and could not avert the clash.

Chacha applies for bail again

International tiger skin trader Suraj Pal alias Chacha (67) has again applied for bail before the judicial magistrate first class (JMFC) AY Borkar. The same court had rejected his bail on January 16 on the grounds that Chacha was a hardened criminal with a long history of poaching since 1972. He applied for bail again before the court on March 24. However, preliminary objection as to maintainability of the second bail application was filed by the forest department and the second bail application was thereafter withdrawn.

Now, a third bail application has been filed by Chacha on April 1. When Chacha was arrested in September from Delhi, cash Rs 50 lakh besides Chinese currency was seized from his residence. Chacha is said to be the biggest tiger skins and body parts smuggler after Sansar Chand, who died recently. He had also taken over the syndicate run by Sansar Chand. His bail plea will be heard on April 11.