Mohana, Sept 2: In a significant crackdown on wildlife crime, the Forest Department arrested two poachers and seized tiger body parts and hunting equipment during a raid at Gochhaguda village in Gajapati district’s Mohana block.

The arrested individuals, identified as Lulu Mallick and Sahadev Mallick, both residents of Gochhaguda, were found in possession of two tiger teeth, a bow and arrow, and four hunting traps, officials said.

The operation followed the arrest of Chitra Malik, also from Gochhaguda, by the Bhanjanagar Forest Division on Sunday in neighboring Ganjam district. He was caught with a tiger skin, triggering a wider investigation into a suspected poaching network.

According to Paralakhemundi ACF Sainisri Das, information obtained from Chitra during interrogation led to the arrest of his son Sahadev and accomplice Lulu. The duo is believed to have hunted a tiger nearly a month ago near Kalarapatharia, close to their village, and were attempting to sell the animal parts in Bhanjanagar.

Acting on the leads, a joint team of forest officials from Paralakhemundi and Bhanjanagar conducted a raid on Monday in Gochhaguda, recovering the tiger teeth and hunting gear from Sahadev’s residence. Both suspects were taken into custody and later handed over to the Bhanjanagar Forest Division for further legal action.

Forest officials said further investigation is underway to trace the full extent of the poaching network and any possible links to wildlife trafficking.

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