Pune city police seize red sand boa, 2 arrested

A team from Wanawadi Police station of Pune City had been working on a specific input that some people would come to Jagtap Chowk area for the sale of a protected snake species. A trap was laid on the intervening night of February 14 and 15. Two persons were intercepted in Jagtap Chowk area based on inputs obtained.

On searching the bag that one of the two was carrying, police found a red sand boa snake. The duo were placed under arrest and identified as Mohammed Kamran Abdul Karim (30), a resident of Gulbarga in Karnataka and Mithun Shettiba Manjule (30), a resident of Nilanga in Latur district of Maharashtra. The details of the action were shared on Tuesday after the probe was completed.

On questioning the duo, it was revealed that Karim had found the snake in his farm in Gulbarga. “He has heard about how this species of snake can be sold at high prices. He subsequently sent out a message to some people on WhatsApp asking if anyone was interested in buying or mediating a sale. Manjule then got in touch with him and the duo decided to come to Pune for the sale of the Red Sand Boa. We are investigating whether they had found any buyer and if any organised racket was operating behind this case,” said an officer who was part of the probe.

Officials said the Forest Department was contacted and the seized snake was handed over to them for further action. Senior Inspector Satyajet Admane, in-charge of Wanawadi police station, said, “There are several superstitious beliefs around sand boa snakes that they bring wealth, good fortune or it can be used to find hidden wealth, etc. It is also used in superstitious black magic practices. It has been observed that because of these false beliefs, this snake is often smuggled, trafficked and sold at very high prices. Further investigation in the case is on.”

The Red Sand Boa snake (Eryx johnii) is a species of non-venomous snake and is known as Mandul is Maharashtra and neighbouring areas.