Wayanad: The Forest Department arrested two men for hunting a spotted deer and selling its meat within the Pathiri Forest Station limits near Pulppalli on Monday.

The arrested were identified as Satheesh (40), son of Appu, and Rajan (44), son of Channakkan, both residents of Pathiri Unnathi. Officials seized the remnants of the carcass, venison, the motor vehicle cable used to trap the animal, and the tools employed to cut the meat. The accused later guided officers to where the items were concealed in the forest.

According to investigators, the two are part of a hunting network involved in supplying wild meat to consumers across Wayanad. A middleman linked to the supply chain is currently under the department’s radar and is expected to be arrested soon.

The operation was led by Chethalath Forest Range Officer M K Rajeev Kumar, with support from forest officials Mohan Kumar, O Raju, Tharanath and P S Sreejith.