Two young men suffered grievous injuries after a vehicle hit their bike on Kalanagar bridge in Bandra East, minutes after they had rescued a rock python that had been cut, sewn and painted to give it the appearance of a red sand boa. The rescuers’ NGO has alleged that the accident was an attempt by snake smugglers to take away the reptile. It has demanded a detailed probe.

Sources said the Bandra police were informed that a rare species of snake would be sold at 8 o’clock on December 5 and it had been kept in an ambulance in front of Bhabha Hospital. The cops reached the spot and sought the help of Daksh Mukesh Beradiya and Sidharth Kambke from non-profit Wildlife Animal Protection and Rescue Association.