Hyderabad Police rescues 4 Indian Rollers caged during Dussehra festival
Synopsis
Hyderabad Police busted an annual festival-driven poaching racket during Dussehra 2026, rescuing four Indian Rollers — Telangana's state bird — from illegal cages at three city locations. The rescue highlights a persistent conflict between superstition and wildlife law, with authorities warning that the birds, protected under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, die in large numbers every year from trauma and starvation in captivity.
Key Takeaways
Hyderabad Police rescued four Indian Rollers from illegal captivity during Dussehra 2026 on 21 October .
Raids were conducted at three locations : Bapu Ghat (Langer Houz) , Sri Chitragupta Swamy Temple (Chatrinaka) , and Balaji Nagar (Mangalhat) .
All four birds were transferred alive to the forest department at KBR Park .
The Indian Roller is a protected species under Schedule IV of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 ; violations carry fines or imprisonment.
Police Commissioner V.C.
Sajjanar confirmed strict legal action is being initiated against those responsible.
Citizens can report caged birds on toll-free numbers 18004255364 , 9803338666 , or by dialling 112 .
Hyderabad Police rescued four Indian Rollers — Telangana's protected state bird — from illegal captivity on 21 October 2026, as Dussehra celebrations prompted a fresh wave of poaching driven by an age-old superstition that sighting the bird during the festival brings good fortune. The birds were found confined in cramped iron cages at three separate locations across the city.
How the Rescue Unfolded
Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar said the operation was launched after vigilant citizens provided precise tip-offs to the force. Acting on that intelligence, teams conducted simultaneous raids at three locations and freed all four birds alive.
Two birds were found suffering in cages near a temple at Bapu Ghat in Langer Houz. They were immediately handed over to forest officials at KBR Park. A third bird was recovered from a cage hung from a tree near the Sri Chitragupta Swamy Temple in Chatrinaka, and a fourth was seized from near a temple in Balaji Nagar, Mangalhat. Both were also transferred to the forest department.
The Commissioner's Warning
Sajjanar issued a sharp public rebuke, noting that warnings about strict legal action had been issued before the festival but were ignored. 'The Indian Roller (Palapitta) — the state bird of Telangana, which ought to be soaring freely in the skies — was confined in iron cages by some individuals for their own selfish motives during Dussehra,' he said.
He added: 'How can there be any auspiciousness in the cries of a bird, struggling in terror between the bars of a cage? True devotion lies in compassion for all living beings — not in holding nature captive.' The Commissioner said coordinated legal proceedings are being initiated against those responsible, in tandem with the forest department.
The Superstition Behind the Cruelty
A longstanding belief in parts of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and other states holds that spotting an Indian Roller on Dussehra is a harbinger of good luck. Bird catchers exploit this belief by capturing the birds days before the festival and displaying them in cages near pandals and temples, charging devotees for a guaranteed sighting.
To prevent the birds from escaping, poachers reportedly tie their legs, trim their feathers, or glue their wings. These insectivorous birds, ill-suited to captivity, frequently die from dehydration, starvation, or trauma within days of the festival ending — making the practice not just cruel but lethal.
Legal Protection and Penalties
The Indian Roller is a protected species under Schedule IV of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. Capturing, caging, or harming the bird is a criminal offence punishable by a hefty fine or imprisonment. Despite this, enforcement gaps and the brief festive window mean violations recur annually.
Sajjanar appealed to citizens to report any sighting of a caged Indian Roller immediately by calling toll-free numbers 18004255364 or 9803338666, or by dialling 112. With the festival season continuing, authorities say they will remain on high alert to prevent further illegal captures.
Point of View
While welcome, is symptomatic of a failure of deterrence rather than a policing success story. The Indian Roller has been Telangana's state bird for years, and the Wildlife (Protection) Act has been on the books since 1972 — yet the caging racket resurfaces every Dussehra with minimal friction. The real question is why pre-festival intelligence and enforcement isn't systematic enough to stop the captures before they happen, rather than after. If the only consequence for poachers is a rescue operation that frees the birds but rarely results in published prosecutions, the superstition-driven trade will outlast every press statement.
NationPress
21 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are Indian Rollers captured during Dussehra?
A longstanding superstition in parts of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh holds that sighting an Indian Roller on Dussehra brings good luck. Bird catchers exploit this belief by capturing the birds and displaying them in cages near temples and festival pandals, charging devotees for a guaranteed sighting.
Is caging an Indian Roller illegal in India?
Yes, it is a criminal offence. The Indian Roller is protected under Schedule IV of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and capturing, caging, or harming the bird is punishable by a hefty fine or imprisonment.
Where were the four birds rescued in Hyderabad?
Two birds were freed from near a temple at Bapu Ghat in Langer Houz, a third from near the Sri Chitragupta Swamy Temple in Chatrinaka, and a fourth from near a temple in Balaji Nagar, Mangalhat. All four were handed over to the forest department.
What happens to Indian Rollers captured during festivals?
These insectivorous wild birds are ill-suited to captivity. Poachers reportedly tie their legs and trim or glue their wings to prevent escape, and the birds frequently die from dehydration, trauma, or starvation shortly after the festival ends.
How can citizens report a caged Indian Roller in Hyderabad?
Citizens can call the toll-free numbers 18004255364 or 9803338666, or dial the emergency number 112, to report any sighting of a caged Indian Roller. Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar has urged immediate reporting to enable swift action.
