New Delhi: Police busted a gang stealing wild animals in Madhya Pradesh and nabbed two men for illegally carrying five rare snakes, estimated to be worth Rs.2.25 crore, to make money.
The accused were on their way to sell two-headed red sand boas in the international market.
Special Task Force (STF) Superintendent of Police Manish Khatri said following a tip-off, the accused, Vishnu Mali and Rahul Ghawari, were arrested.
They confessed to traveling to Indore city to sell the snakes. The police confiscated all the reptiles,
Popularly known as the 2-headed snake, the non-venomous Red Sand Boa is traded illegally due to superstitions surrounding it. The snakes are mostly found in dry, semi-desert scrub plains and rocky, dry foothills of Northern and Central India where they hide in underground burrows of sandy soils.
The snake secretes a substance used for making medicines. It also works as an anti-aging agent and can be used in lotions and moisturizers. The boa is considered lucky and prosperous for the owner.
(Avya Mathur)