Erode: A 54-year-old man was arrested by forest protection squad officials for possessing leopard claws near Sathyamangalam on Saturday evening.He was apprehended when a special team conducted a patrol along the Sathyamangalam–Athani Road, following a tip-off. During the operation, officials noticed a man standing alone under suspicious circumstances near the Hospital Medu bus stop. “A subsequent search of the suspect led to the recovery of two leopard claws,” said a forest officer.The man was identified as Shanmugam, 54, of Kuttai Thottam, in Sathyamangalam taluk. He was taken to the Sathyamangalam forest range office for further interrogation.A wildlife offense case was subsequently registered against him. The accused and the seized claws were produced before the judicial magistrate in Sathyamangalam on Saturday night. Further investigation is on.
