Balasore, Dec. 17 -- In a major crackdown, the Forest Department has uncovered an organised hunting and illegal wildlife meat trade racket operating within the Kuldiha Wildlife Sanctuary in Odisha's Balasore district and arrested nine persons in this connection. While three poachers were initially arrested from the Panchalingeswar beat area, six others were recently nabbed in connection with incidents of illegal hunting and trade of wild animal meat inside the protected forest area.The arrested persons include Kati Singh and Mangal Singh of Shyamsundarpur area, Nath Singh of Kantabania besides Jayant Mallik and Bipin Mallik of Mughunipur village.

Weapons and materials such as pangolin scales, elephant tusks, and other tools used for hunt...