Search based on confidential information; officers shocked to find python meat cooked in kitchen

PALAKKAD: Man arrested for killing a python and cooking it in his kitchen. The man who prepared the 'special dish' in his kitchen is from Palakkad Thaliyakonam. Elambakkatil Rajesh (42), who stays near Thaliyakonam Bapuji Stadium, was arrested. He was caught by forest department officials. The officials reached Rajesh's house and conducted a search based on the confidential information received by Palappilly Range Officer Ratheesh.

Accused Rajesh was not at home when the officers arrived for inspection. Following this, the forest department officials conducted the inspection in the presence of the ward member. During the inspection, it was found that snake meat was cooked in the kitchen. The seized snake meat has been sent to the Rajiv Gandhi Bio Lab in Thiruvananthapuram for scientific testing. Forest officials informed that he caught the snake from a field at Thaliyakonam.
The accused was produced before the Irinjalakuda Judicial First Class Magistrate and remanded. Under the country's forest laws, killing snakes is punishable by up to three years in prison and a fine of Rs 25,000.