India, Feb. 5 -- In a major crackdown on wildlife crime, Forest personnel have arrested six poachers, including a government school teacher, for their alleged involvement in illegal wildlife trafficking in Kuldiha in Odisha's Balasore district. As many as 13 pangolin scales, eight mobile phones, and three motorcycles were seized from the accused. The arrested persons have been produced in court.

According to the Forest Department, the arrests were made while investigations were ongoing into an earlier poaching case. On January 22, Kuldiha Range Officer Subrat Behera, had busted a poaching gang during a raid in the area. Continued surveillance and repeated raids by forest personnel led to the latest arrests.

11 persons held in two weeks...