India, July 26 -- At least 736 birds of six different species that are protected under different schedules of the Wildlife Act were rescued from at least two shops at Coat market, which is also known as Kabootar market, in Jama Masjid in central Delhi following a raid conducted by the department of forest and wildlife on Thursday evening, senior officials of the department said.

The birds were kept in multiple small and big cages made of metal and plastics. The cages were stacked in cramped spaces in the shops in inhumane condition by their custodians. The people who ran and managed the shops fled the area after seeing the raiding team. Some personnel from the local Jama Masjid police station assisted the forest and wildlife department's...