MADURAI: Two men were arrested in Ramanathapuram on charges of illegal possession of a sand boa, Schedule –IV of the reptile species and six bird species of rose ringed parakeet, a prohibited species listed under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act, sources said on Tuesday. A team led by B Jabez, Ramanathapuram Forest Range Officer, while patrolling, found those two moving in a suspicious manner near Ramnad bus stand with a plastic bucket and a gunny bag, sources said. Based on a directive from Bakhan Jagdish Sudhakar, Wildlife Warden, Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, a compounding fee of Rs 25,000 was imposed on each of the accused. The seized species were then let into forest area. The accused have been identified as S Robert Shaji (35) of Vilavancode, Kanniyakumari and R Muthu Thangam (25) of Valavallan, Thoothukudi, sources said.

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