Two takshak snakes rescued, 4 held

Two takshak snakes (gecko) were rescued from four smugglers who were arrested near here early today.

Baikunthapur forest division ranger Sanjay Dutta said forest department personnel got a tip off about the smugglers and met them at Gosala More posing as buyers.

The forest department personnel, along with policemen, then arrested the four, two of whom were engineering students of Jalpaiguri Polytechnic Institute.

The snakes, which are in demand in various countries for their medicinal value, were later released in the forest, Dutta said.