Madikeri: In separate cases, the Virajpet Forest Mobile Squad personnel have arrested four persons who were trying to sell the endangered Red Sand Boa snake and Pangolin scales in Kodagu.

In the first case, Virajpet Forest Mobile Squad personnel have arrested two persons who were trying to sell Red Sand Boa snake.

Those arrested are 24-year-old Puneeth Kumar of Arasikere and 20-year-old Chandan Kumar alias Darshan of Belur, both in Hassan district. The accused were nabbed on Karnataka-Kerala National Highway near Perambadi in Virajpet taluk. The accused were produced at Ponnampet Court, which remanded them to 15 days judicial custody.

In the second case, two persons were arrested for attempting to sell Pangolin scales in front of Health and Welfare Centre in Attur village.

Those arrested are Raju of Chennangi village in Virajpet taluk and Dharma alias Mari of Kattepura village in Somwarpet taluk.

Acting on a tip off, the Forest Department personnel raided the spot and caught the accused red handed along with Pangolin scales. The accused were produced before Ponnampet Senior Civil Judge and JMFC Court, which remanded them to 15 days judicial custody.

CID Police Forest Mobile Squad IGP K.V. Sharathchandra and In-charge Superintendent of Police (SP) N.T. Srinivas Reddy guided In-charge Sub-Inspector C.U. Savi and staff T.P. Manjunath, K.S. Devaiah, C.B. Beena, S.M. Yogesh, P.U. Muneer, R. Nandakumar and Mohan in the nabbing and seizing operation.

Commonly known as the ‘two-headed snake’ because of its blunt tail that resembles a head, the red sand boa has been a favourite with smugglers as the reptiles fetch a lot of money. Smuggling of this snake is rampant as it is believed that they have supernatural powers. Sand Boas hold significance mainly because of the myth and belief surrounding them. These non-venomous snakes are used for black magic. The demand for the sand boa has also been associated with superstitions which claim that owning a Sand Boa brings in immense luck. The snake is protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, therefore, collection, trade or utilisation of the species is prohibited in India.