Chandigarh, Aug. 30 -- A pet shop owner was arrested after 179 protected native birds, including Red Munias, Scaly-breasted Munias and Common Hill Mynas, were rescued from his shop in Pathankot on Saturday.

Mohammad Jahid, owner of Chotu Pet Shop on Saili Road, was booked under Sections 9 (prohibition of hunting), 39 (possessing government property), 49 B (a) (iv) (a dealer in any captive animals being scheduled animals), 51 (penalties) and 57 (presumption) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act at the Division Number 2 police station as the rescued birds are protected under Schedule I and Schedule II of the Act.

The Pathankot wildlife department carried out the operation after being alerted by environmentalist and wildlife rescuer Sahil Shar...