Two suspected smugglers were arrested with over 50 parakeets from the outskirts of Siliguri on Friday.

A team of foresters posted at the Sarugara forest range of Baikunthapur forest division intercepted the duo in the Canal Road area. “The duo were carrying 55 parakeets in a big cage. We arrested them as they could not furnish proper documents for possessing the birds,” said a forester.

Those arrested have been identified as Dinesh Das and Sajjad Alam, both residents of Galgalia, which is under Thakurganj district of Bihar.

“Preliminary probe suggests that Das and Alam had procured the birds from somewhere near Malbazar (of Jalpaiguri district) and were taking those to Bihar. There are reports that a racket engaged in smuggling of parakeets and other birds is active in the neighbouring state and recently, some seizures have been made in Malda. We are on alert,” a forest officer said.

In recent times, this is the fourth such incident of parakeets being seized in north Bengal.

As per the Wildlife (Protection) Act, there is a ban on possessing, selling or caging parakeets. “Anybody found guilty can face imprisonment up to six years or a maximum fine of Rs 6,000 can be imposed on him,” said a source.