107 kg of corals seized in Rameswaram

After arresting the duo identified as Murugan (50) of Kattu Pillaiyar Kovil Street, Ramartheertham and Meenatchi (47) of the same locality, the Forest personnel attached to Mandapam Range seized as many as 107 kg of corals, sources said.

Venkatesh, Range Officer, Mandapam Forest Range, said acting on a tip off, a team spotted the suspicious movement of the duo. Based on the inquiry, the officials revealed that they stashed the corals at remote locality for selling them to the maximum of Rs 5, 000. The duo smuggled coral reefs from Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi. Further, the Range Officer said such acts of possessing corals were punishable offence and any offender would face imprisonment of three years and seven years to the maximum under provisions of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.