Mumbai: Two Red Sand Boas rescued; 3 held for trying to sell them

The team of officials with the rescued snakes

Two Red Sand Boa snakes were rescued from Goregaon East in a joint operation by Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) Western Region and a team of Range Forest Office. They also arrested three people who were trying to sell the snakes to people for allegedly performing black magic. The accused were identified as Rahim Azaz Ahmed Khan, 48, a Goregaon resident; Subhash Somlal Pawar, 62, a Santacruz resident; and Wasiulla Mohd Shafi Rai, 48, a Goregaon resident.

The Red Sand Boas are said to be in a healthy state

"Red Sand Boa is non-venomous, so it is easily poached. As per information, they are used in performing black magic and medicinal purposes," said Honorary Wildlife Warden Sunish Subramanian Kunju, who was part of the joint operation. After receiving specific information, WCCB and the RFO team jointly laid a trap and nabbed the accused and seized the animals which are protected under Schedule IV of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

A preliminary offence report was registered against the accused trio and they were produced before the Borivli court on Tuesday. The court remanded them in police custody till October 29 and sent them to Taloja Jail. Range Forest Officer Varsha R Kharmate said, "We have conducted a medical examination of the seized snakes. They are healthy and will be released in the forest."