Ludhiana, March 23 -- A 30-year-old man was arrested in Ludhiana after a joint team of the police and wildlife department caught him red-handed while attempting to sell a pair of protected rose-ringed parakeets during a decoy operation.

The accused, identified as Vishal Grover, a resident of Lehri Nagar in Mundian Kalan, was taken into custody and a pair of parrots was recovered from his possession.

A case has been registered against him under Sections 2, 39, 48, 48A, 49, 50 and 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act on the complaint of Range Officer (Wildlife) Anu.

Officials said they had received a tip-off regarding the illegal trade of parrots, following which a decoy operation was planned. Wildlife officials posed as customers and appro...