The CCIB branch of the city police arrested four persons for ‘illegal possession of a sand boa snake’.
The special team was led by Adivesh Gudhigoppa , CPI CCIB Belagavi who nabbed two vehicles and arrested four persons. The snake was kept in a bag.
Police have identified the suspects as Kutubuddin Bailwad(48), Sanavulla, Akbar Nadaf, Imamsab Kabbur. They were nabbed near Bharesth College on NH 4 after a tip off.
Police said that sand boa (Eryx Johnii), commonly known as Mandul, was a non-venomous snake protected under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972. Its trade is illegal. But police said that people, astrologers, traders and celebrities purchased these snakes due to a superstition that they brought good luck.
The snake was later handed over to Forest department.