Pythons found in apartment; Forest Department, police launch probe

The Forest Department and the police have launched an investigation after pythons were allegedly found inside a private apartment in Kamakshipalya on Friday.

The incident came to light when residents of the apartment reportedly noticed suspicious activities and the frequent movement of unknown persons in a flat over the past few days. Suspecting illegal activity, they alerted the Forest Department officials.

Acting on the information, Forest Department officials conducted a late-night inspection of the apartment on Friday. During the search, they found pythons being kept inside the flat without the required permission.

The officials informed the Kamakshipalya police, who visited the spot and conducted a joint inspection. The reptiles were reportedly found inside cotton/cardboard boxes.

The police questioned several persons present in the flat, including a resident from Andhra Pradesh, as part of the preliminary inquiry.

An NCR (Non-Cognisable Report) has been registered at the Kamakshipalya Police Station, while the Forest Department has initiated a separate inquiry into the illegal possession of the reptiles.

Officials are investigating how the pythons were procured, whether the accused had any links to an illegal wildlife trade network, and the purpose for which the reptiles were being kept in the residential apartment.