Indore, Sep 24 (PTI) The police's special task force (STF) on Friday arrested four persons with five rare red sand boas in Madhya Pradesh's Indore district, an official said.

Also Read | TS EdCET 2021 Result Declared At edcet.tsche.ac.in; Here Are Steps To Download The Rank Card.

The endangered snakes are used in superstitious rituals and black magic, and sold in the illicit market, the official said.

Also Read | OnePlus Nord 2 5G Review: Best Mid-Range Phone To Buy Right Now?.

“Acting on a tip-off, an STF team intercepted a motorcycle in Khudail area and nabbed four men carrying the snakes in bags,” STF superintendent of police Manish Khatri said.

The five snakes are valued at Rs 2.25 crore in the illicit market, he said.

The rescued reptiles have been taken to the civic-run Kamla Nehru Zoo, the official said, adding that police are on the lookout for the other accused involved in the racket.

Red sand boa, popularly known as two-headed snake, is listed under Schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)