Bengaluru, July 5 -- Karnataka forest, ecology and environment minister Eshwar B Khandre on Friday recommended the suspension of three forest department officers, including deputy conservator of forests (DCF) Y Chakrapani, in connection with the unnatural deaths of five tigers in the Male Mahadeshwara Hills (MM Hills) wildlife range.

The action comes in the wake of a preliminary report submitted by a high-level committee investigating the deaths of an adult tigress and her four cubs. The probe found that the big cats had consumed a cow carcass laced with a toxic chemical compound-an apparent act of revenge by miscreants. The committee, headed by additional principal chief conservator of forests Kumar Pushkar, includes senior officials fr...