The Tamil Nadu forest department has arrested three persons for allegedly poisoning the carcass of a wild boar to kill two tigers, which subsequently died of poisoning a few days ago in the Bitherkad forest area in Sussex Estate, part of the Gudalur forest range.

The three accused have been identified as Suryanath Parag, 35, Amankoyala, 24, and Suresh Nanwar, 25, all hailing from West Bengal. They confessed to poisoning the wild boar with an insecticide containing 3 percent granulated Carbofuron with the motive of killing the tigers for their skin, claws and teeth, the Forest Department said.

“The toxicology report on the sample taken during the autopsy of the two tigers and the wild boar revealed that the tigers had died due to poisoning with carbofurone and chlorpyrifos,” the department said in a press release.

Based on the report, it was found that the carcass of the wild boar was poisoned to attack the tigers, the officials said. The three suspects, who were detained for questioning, took pictures of the wild boar on their phones, which were subsequently deleted. It is also said that they were involved in killing wild boars in the past.

“The mobile phones were seized as evidence and a confession statement was obtained from the suspect. The hard work of the team resulted in the arrest of the suspect and since there was suspicion against them from the beginning, they were kept under vigil, which prevented them from escaping,” the forest department added.