LAKHIMPUR KHERI, Nov. 12 -- Dudhwa National Park (DNP) officials arrested two men from the Ramuvapur (Majhauli) forest area in the Belrayan range on Wednesday for allegedly hunting a chital (spotted deer). The arrests were made during a special patrolling drive launched to prevent poaching and the illegal trade of wild animals during the festive season, forest officials said.

Belrayan forest range officer Rakesh Tiwari said the accused were identified as Tejender Singh and his son Jagjit Singh, residents of Tikona Farm under Majhgai police station limits. Meat of a male chital was recovered from their possession, and both allegedly confessed to hunting the spotted deer, he added.

He said a sample of the recovered meat had been sent to a...