Seven, including health inspector, arrested for trying to sell Common Sand Boa for Rs.6 crore

PERINTHALMANNA: The Perinthalmanna police have arrested seven people, including a health inspector, who tried to sell a four-kilogram Common Sand Boa for Rs.6 crore. The arrested have been identified as Mohammad Ashraf (44) of Perinthalmanna's Thootha, a health inspector in Valancherry, Prashob (36) from Kallamparambu in Paravur's Vadakkumpuram, Ramu (42) and Eswaran (52) of Tirupur, Nizamuddin (40) of Komban House in Vengappally, Wayanad, Panakunnil Hamsa (53) of Kannur Taliparamba, Sulaimankunju (50), a native of Kollam's Thevalakkara.

The gang, which came with two Common Sand Boas in the bag, was caught near Manathumangalam Junction following a tip-off. It was Prashob and Nizamuddin who brought Sand Boas to Kerala from Andhra for Rs 4.5 lakh through Ramu and Eswaran. Others are agents.

They reached Perinthalmanna for sale with a fixed price of 6 crores through agents. But there is no information about the buyer. The accused and the snake have been handed over to the Karuvarakkund Forest Department for further investigation. The Perinthalmanna police informed that they have received a tip-off about the middlemen of the gang and that more arrests will be made.