India, Aug. 20 -- Chhattisgarh's forest department has written a letter to the state home department, recommending a central agency probe into a tiger poaching case, citing a preliminary investigation that showed suspected interstate links and the possibility of a wider wildlife-trafficking network operating beyond Chhattisgarh. The letter dated July 27, a copy of which HT has seen, said two of the arrested accused are associated with the intelligence wing of Maharashtra Police in Gadchiroli.

The probe into the tiger poaching began after three tiger skins were seized and nine people were arrested along Chhattisgarh's border with Maharashtra. On June 29, two tiger skins, 13 whiskers, and a motorcycle registered in Maharashtra were recover...