Three suspected poachers held in Wayanad

A special team of the forest department arrested three suspected poachers during a flash inspection of a forest area near Madoor in Wayanad on Sunday, January 18, 2026. Country-made weapons and other hunting equipment were seized from them. It was stated that those arrested were Favas (32), Muhammad Salih (39) and Junaid (34) from Kozhikode.

A Forest department team from Irulam forest station acted on a tip-off received by a senior official who was part of a similar rapid-fire investigation that nabbed four suspected poachers from Wayanad a few days ago. The three Kozhikode locals arrested were reportedly hunting deer in Wayanad and Malabar wildlife sanctuaries.

The accused is also suspected of selling the hunted meat to local buyers, a Forest department official said. He added that the details of people who frequently came into contact with the gang were also being examined.