By IANS
New Delhi : Four people have been arrested here for allegedly selling bones, nails and teeth of endangered animals, including of the leopard and lion, police said Friday.
“Information was received that one Raju was supplying prohibited animal body parts to some shopkeepers in the Hanuman Mandir complex. After keeping surveillance for several days a raid was conducted at his Loni home in Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday,” Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Anand Mohan said.
“The man was arrested and three snake bone malas (necklaces), two leopard nails and one lion tooth were recovered from him,” Mohan added.
The official said Raju told the police that he was supplying animal parts to Subramanayam Nath, Jagdish Kumar, who have shops in the Mandir complex, and to Raja Babu, who lives in Badarpur area of south Delhi.
Mohan said that shops and premises of the three were raided and two leopard nails, a locket with two lion nails, 20 lion nails and six jackal nails were recovered from them.
Police said the accused have been arrested under the Wild Life Protection Act-1972 for selling prohibited animals’ parts and would be produced before a city magistrate Saturday.
“We will be seeking their police custody to ascertain the source of animal body parts,” he added.