India, July 5 -- In a major crackdown on illegal wildlife trade, the Pune forest department on Friday arrested 11 individuals and seized more than 400 kg of peacock feathers from the bustling Bohri Ali market in the heart of the city. The action was carried out following a tip-off about large-scale smuggling and sale of peacock feathers ahead of the festive season.

Acting on information that a substantial consignment of peacock feathers was expected to arrive in the city for commercial sale, the forest department kept a close watch on the market area. The 11 accused individuals were nabbed from Narpatgiri Chowk in Somwar Peth. During initial interrogation, they said that a large stockpile of peacock feathers was stored at a residential c...