Czech bug hunters arrested in India not to be released on bail

A court in Darjeeling, India has refused to release on bail two Czech bug hunters who were arrested last month for collecting rare insects. Emil Kučera and Petr Švácha are believed to have collected several hundred specimens and each faces up to seven years in prison. The Indian press has suggested that the Czechs could belong to an international network of butterfly smugglers. The researchers defended their actions by saying they had no idea they had been within the boundaries of a national park. The Czech scientific community reacted to the case by circulating a petition in support of both suspects. It was signed by more than 500 people and presented to the Indian prime minister.