THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A four-member gang was arrested for allegedly trying to sell an Indian Sand Boa at Anayara near the KIMS Hospital here on Thursday. The arrested are Shabeer B K, 33, son of Basheer, of Khadeeja Manzil, Nedumangad, Robert Bright alias Lal, 38, son of Paul Bright of Pallinada House, Nedumangad, Velayudhan, 52, alias Ambily, son of Subrahmanian of Pothencode, and Illyaskutty, 56, son of Asanaru Kunhu of Vellichakala House, Kollam.
The arrests were made on a tip-off received by the Range Officer. The accused were produced before the Forest Court, Nedumangad and remanded in custody. A Scorpio car and a Unicorn Bike, allegedly used for smuggling the snake, were also seized from the accused.
The initial probe linked the accused to an inter-state wildlife smuggling gang, with more persons involved in the crime, a Forest Department release said. Officers under the leadership of T Ratheesh, Forest Range Officer, Palode, made the arrests. Deputy range forest officer T Ajikumar, section forest officers G V Shibu, Manikandan Nair, Binduraj, beat officer Ragesh G S and tribal watchers Santhakuamar, Thulasi, Jaleel and Binu were part of the team.