From correspondents in West Bengal, India, 11:31 PM IST

A city court Monday sent a man to jail for keeping 81 birds for breeding and trading purposes.

'Acting on a tip-off, officials of the wildlife department raided Mohammad Wakil's residence at Narkeldanga in north Kolkata Sunday and seized 81 prohibited birds,' Deputy Commissioner (Detective Department) Jawed Shamim told reporters here.

'Wakil was arrested under Section 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act. The Sealdah court has sent him to judicial custody and ordered the release of the birds,' Shamim said.

The birds will be released by the West Bengal wildlife department Tuesday.

The police said 55 parrots, 22 munias and four sterlings were seized from Wakil's residence.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)