Foot soldiers of an international poaching syndicate, the trio are alleged to be involved in killing no less than 20 tigers in MP and Maharashtra, said sources.

The accused have been identified as Tilia, 25, his brother Tyohari, 36, and Rockin, 38 - from state's Katni district and belong to the nomadic community 'Pardhi'.

They were on most wanted list of the CBI's Mumbai unit investigating poaching of several tigers from the Vidarbha region, said sources.

STF (Wildlife) of the state forest department led by senior IFS officer R P Singh and SDO RiteshSirothia got hold of these accused based on a specific intelligence while they were working on poaching case of a tiger from Satpura Tiger Reserve (STR). All three were produced before the special court of CBI cases in Jabalpur and handed over to CBI on transit remand.

According to Nagpur bureau, a gang of organized tiger poachers arrested in June 2013 by the forest and police officials in Mansar near Nagpur had confessed that at least 11 tigers were killed in the eight months by two separate gangs. (Maharashtra forest officials had recorded killing of only five tigers).

All the tiger skins were sold to SarjuBagdi, a tiger skin and body parts trader from Haryana/Delhi in April and June 2013. The hides were systematically smuggled to Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and then to Nepal. The first deal for six skins was struck in April 2013 in Bhandarbodi near Ramtek while another five skins were sold in June 2013 near Amdi, said sources.

Key poachers Chika and Mamru are arrested. Rockin who was arrested by MPSTF on Monday is a close relative of Chika. Many of the poachers had gone underground after arrest of their gang members. Former Maharashtra CM PrathvirajChavan had recommended a CBI inquiry into the matter following interstate ramification though the forest department opposed.

Accused Tilia, his brother Tyohari, and Rockin would be produced before Nagpur court on Tuesday by CBI Mumbai for further investigation.

Wildlife activists say that Pardhi community members living near forest areas need to be rehabilitated soon.

Pardhi is a traditional hunting community that has been dependent on hunting for livelihood. This was the only skill they knew for ages. With the enactment of Wildlife Protection Act in 1972, hunting of wild animals was declared illegal.

"In the absence of any rehabilitation efforts, pardhis were left with no legitimate way to eke out a living. The government has largely neglected them as citizens and has hardly done anything for their social uplift. Most of them lead a life of nomad destitute. While crores are spent on conserving tigers by the government and NGOs, not much has been done to mainstream Pardhis," says VaibhavChaturvedi, conservation professional.

Asked what needs to be done to keep them away from tiger poaching, Chaturvedi said, "Enforcement and social uplift of traditional hunting communities. Firstly, government and society have to be equally sensitive about them as they are about the tigers. Concentrated efforts have to be made in order to uplift and mainstream Pardhis thus diverting them from poaching,".

There were some great initiatives like the bridge school that WWF and forest department started at Panna for Pardhi children.

"I feel there's a dire need to engage with the traditional hunting communities at both enforcement and social levels. At one end you have to make poaching an expensive proposition for them by not letting them get away with it easily. Sound intelligence gathering can in fact prevent these crimes from occurring at the first place. On the social front, government and NGOs must help these people to adapt to mainstream occupations and lead a respectful life," says Chaturvedi.