Police on Friday conducted a raid at Chandaka here and arrested nine persons on the charges of poaching wildlife and possession of illegal arm and explosives.
The cops also seized deer meat, skin and a gun from their possession during a raid.
The accused were identified as Nirmal Srichandan alias Nirei (37), Ganda Hembram alias Gedu (25), Kanhei Nayak (24), Anil Chemif alias Banka (22), Tarunkanta Samantaray (32), Bikash Pradhan (38), Srikant Samantray (31), Jagamohan Mangaraj (33) and Pradyumna Sahoo (38). All are the residents of the Chandaka area.
Reports said the Chandaka Police raided a house belonging to Ganda Hembram at Phirikinali area after inputs about possession of illegal firearms.
During the raid, police seized approximately 11 kg deer meat and a skin of a spotted deer from the spot. The officials recovered a country made gun and ammunition and a knife from possession of the accused .
All the accused persons have been booked under Section 25 of Arms Act. The wild animal meat and spotted deer skin have been handed over to Forest Department for follow up action under the Wildlife Act, police said.