Major Wildlife Bust on Howrah-Bound Express Train
In a significant crackdown on illegal wildlife trade, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) in Dhanbad intercepted a consignment of 78 live turtles from the Yog Nagri Rishikesh–Howrah Doon Express. The operation, which took place in the early hours of Friday, led to the recovery of Indian Flapshell turtles with an estimated black-market value of around Rs 7 lakh.
Tip-Off Leads to Swift Action
Acting on specific intelligence about wildlife smuggling activities aboard the train, a dedicated RPF task team sprang into action. Under the direction of the senior divisional security commissioner in Dhanbad, the team moved to platform no. 2 and conducted a thorough search of the designated women's coach as soon as the train, numbered 13010, arrived.
During their inspection, officials discovered six unclaimed cloth bags strategically hidden beneath the seats. When none of the female passengers present claimed ownership of the suspicious bags, the team proceeded to open them. Inside, they found jute sacks containing the 78 live turtles.
Legal Proceedings and Handover
The RPF immediately seized all the turtles and initiated formal action under the stringent Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. The forest department was promptly informed about the incident, and a team from the department arrived at the location shortly after being notified.
Following the necessary procedures, the rescued turtles were officially handed over to the forest range officer in Dhanbad for further care and legal processing. The RPF has confirmed that a formal case has been registered against unidentified traffickers, and investigations are ongoing to apprehend those responsible for this smuggling attempt.
