Illegal sale of snakes lands 2 in police net

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 12

The crime branch of the UT police has arrested two persons, Ranbir, a resident of Nayagaon in Mohali district, and Vijay, a resident of Shastri Nagar, Mani Majra, for illegal sale of “double-headed wonder” snakes in the city at very high rates. The raiding team comprised officials of the Wildlife Department, Sector 19, and the crime branch.

A bundle of papers having two currency notes of Rs 500 denomination was prepared and handed over to a decoy customer, who was sent to a ground located at the rear side of Bapu Dham Colony, Sector 26, Chandigarh, to strike a deal with the accused.

The decoy customer finalised the deal with the snake dealers for Rs 15 lakh per snake and handed over the prepared bundle of notes to them as advance money. On receiving a signal from the decoy customer, the raiding team apprehended both accused along with a bag.

During a search of the bag, three brown and red “double-headed wonder (two-mouth)” snakes of the sand bua breed were recovered. The bundle of money, which was handed over to them by the decoy customer, was also recovered.

Accused Vijay is a resident of Sonepat and used to capture snakes from jungles in Haryana, UP and Rajasthan. He used to sell these at high rates with the help of his accomplices to persons who prepare drugs/medicine, especially those used to improve sex power.

They disclosed that some people also kept these snakes in their houses to get spiritual powers.