Baripada: Forest department officials on Saturday arrested four persons in connection with the killing of a python at Sirsa village under Kuliana police limits in Mayurbhanj district.
The accused persons have been identified as Barial Marandi (30), Babula Song (50), Mathura Marandi (64), and Kama Marandi 35.
The accused were arrested on the basis of the viral video in which a group of youths were seen brutally killing a python and then dragging its lifeless body through the village streets. The footage sparked widespread outrage among the animal conservationists forcing the Forest department to take action.