Gaya, February 4: Railway police (RPF) at Gaya railway station were taken aback when they discovered a dead snake in a passenger’s bag during a routine search. This led to the arrest of two traffickers involved in the illegal wildlife trade.
The incident occurred on Tuesday evening while RPF officers were patrolling Platform 1B. They noticed two suspicious young men carrying a bag. When the police signaled for them to stop, the duo attempted to flee but were quickly apprehended.
Upon searching their bag, officers found a rare species of dead Red Sand Boa snake. The discovery caused a commotion on the platform, prompting the RPF to take the two suspects into custody.
RPF Inspector Banarasi Yadav reported on Wednesday, “During our patrol on Platform 1B, we caught two individuals with a dead snake. One identified himself as Upendra Kumar from Makhdum Pur in Jehanabad district, while the other was Mohammad Sadulla from Amraha village in Gaya district. The bag contained the rare Red Sand Boa.”
The authorities immediately notified the forest department. A snake catcher and a Quick Response Team (QRT) arrived on the scene to seize the snake. The Red Sand Boa is highly sought after in the international market, with its value reaching millions due to its use in superstitions and black magic. The traffickers were attempting to transport the dead snake to another location.
The police are currently investigating the case. Both traffickers have been charged under the Wildlife Protection Act. The Red Sand Boa, also known as the two-headed snake, is an extremely rare and non-venomous reptile.
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