Wayanad: The Forest Department on Friday arrested six men for hunting and selling the meat of a wild gaur in Irulam, Wayanad. The arrests were made during a raid led by Chethalath Range Forest Officer M K Rajeev Kumar following a tip-off received by South Wayanad Divisional Forest Officer Ajith K Raman.

The arrested have been identified as Sharath (24), Aneesh (21), Shijosh (42), Rajesh (49), Reji Mathew (25), and Bijesh (49). The group was caught while loading packets of gaur meat—each weighing about 3 kg—into a car.

During the operation, officials seized a car, a jeep, and a two-wheeler used for hunting and transporting the carcass. A country-made gun and several knives used to butcher the animal were also recovered.

According to forest officials, the gang is part of an organised hunting network in the region. The poached meat was reportedly sold to wholesalers at ₹350 per kg, who then resold it to customers for around ₹450 per kg. One of the accused, a ration shop owner, had allegedly purchased 12 kg of the meat.

Three more individuals linked to the racket have been identified and are absconding. The Forest Department said they are likely to be arrested soon. The raid team included Irulam Deputy Range Officer K P Abdul Gafoor, Pulppalli Range Officer A Nijesh, and other staff members.

The six accused will be produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court-I, Sulthan Bathery, on Saturday. Further investigation is underway to trace the remaining suspects and uncover the full extent of the hunting network.