The crime branch sleuths of Unit I of Pune police have arrested two persons in connection with the illegal possession of two sand boa snakes on Monday. According to the crime branch officials, the two snakes are estimated to be worth Rs.50 lakh in the market and are in great demand. The suspects arrested have been identified as Ganesh Subhash Wafgaonkar, 18, and Raju Baban Shilimkar, 40, both residents of Bhor. Acting on a tip off that the duo will be arriving with the snakes, a team of crime branch officials laid a trap and arrested the suspects. DCP (Crime) Pankaj Dahane said that the snakes belonged to sand boa species (Eryx Johnii) commonly known as Mandul in the local parlance.

Source: Hindustan Times December 05, 2017 09:33 UTC