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Turtles Found Smuggled in Luxury Train Coach
15 Feb
Summary
- Over 300 endangered turtles were discovered hidden in a first-class train compartment.
- A coach attendant was apprehended while attempting to smuggle the protected species.
- The investigation indicates a trafficking network spanning multiple districts and states.
In a startling find, over 300 endangered Indian tent turtles were discovered hidden in a luxury AC First-Class compartment of the Patna-Indore Express train. Forest officers made the discovery during a routine check at Sant Hirdaram railway station. A coach attendant, Ajay Singh Rajput, was apprehended with two bags containing the live, protected reptiles. Rajput reportedly confessed to receiving the bags from an unknown contact in Lucknow, exploiting his access to private cabin spaces within the train for concealment.
Investigators believe the turtles were trapped from river systems and distributed through a network spanning at least five districts in Uttar Pradesh. The probe has also led to the arrest of Asif Khan in Madhya Pradesh, with authorities suspecting his involvement in a larger trafficking scheme that could involve financiers and distributors across Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra. All 311 seized turtles are now under the care of forest officials, receiving veterinary attention for dehydration and stress, with plans to release healthy individuals back into suitable natural water bodies.
