8-Foot Long Tiger Skin Seized In Bengal's Hashimara

Hashimara, Bengal: An 8-foot long tiger skin was seized from four men in north Bengal's Hashimara today, who told the police that they were promised Rs 16 lakh for it.

The skin was brought into Hashimara allegedly from Bhutan and packed with 88 pieces of tiger bone. The consignment was to supposedly go to China via Nepal.

Forest department officials along with the police raided the alleged smugglers' hideout early this morning.

Three of the four people arrested are from Jaigaon which is on the Indo-Bhutan border. The fourth person is from phuntsoling in Bhutan. Police suspects that two other people from Assam believed to be involved in the smuggling may have fled.

Wildlife officials suspect that given the size, the skin is of a Royal Bengal tiger mostly found in the Sunderbans in south Bengal.