Mananthavady: Kerala Forest Department arrested four men, including a temporary watcher, on Tuesday for hunting a spotted deer inside Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary. 

The arrested have been identified as Payyampally native Thomas (Baby-67), his brother Kurian (Reji-58), Thankachan (51), and watcher Chandran (47). 

Thrissilery Section Forest officer K Ratheesh Kumar conducted a raid at Baby's house on Monday and seized 50 kg of deer meat and equipment used to butcher the wild animal. 

Later, Baby and Thankachan were taken into custody and handed over to Tholpetty Asst. Wildlife Warden. According to the officials, the accused set a trap near the outskirts of the wildlife sanctuary to catch deers. The trap was set after the accused discovered that deers frequently leave the forest and venture onto private property to drink water from a pond. 

The accused subsequently revealed that the trap was laid by watcher Chandran. Sunil Kumar, the assistant wildlife warden, informed that Chandran had been relieved of his duties. Chandran and Reji surrendered to authorities on Tuesday.