Bhubaneswar: The forest department sleuths today arrested a wild bird trader and rescued around 40 parrot hatchlings from him at Nuagaan under Lathikata police Station in Rourkela.
The accused identified as Tahir Ansari kept the birds for smuggling. He has been forwarded to court.
Two others involved in the racket are absconding, Jaswant Sethi, DFO, Rourkela.
“We were tipped off that one Tahir Ansari of Lathikata area kept some parrots. Our mobile squad rushed to the place and found 40 birds in his possession. We apprehended him and questioned him. We got know that he used to collect the birds from forest areas and supply to two smuggles. These two are absconding, said the DFO.
“Tahir also received Rs 10,000 advance from them. We are trying to break the smuggling chain,” added Sethi.
Earlier on January 23, the forest department had arrested two bird traders and rescued 82 parrot hatchlings from them at Nala Road in Rourkela.
