Ghaziabad Police arrested two bird smugglers and recovered five owls of rare species from their possession. Acting on a tip-off, the duo was nabbed before they could sell owls to a buyer who was planning to sacrifice the birds in the name of social malpractice. SP Ghaziabad City, Manish Mishra said, "We got the information about two people who were involved in bird smuggling. We have arrested them and seized five owls of rare species from them. There is social malpractice in which owls are sacrificed on Diwali by exorcists. They were arrested before they could deliver owls to a buyer. We are tracing the buyer." Later, the police handed over owls to the Forest Department officials.