Siliguri, 21st July: The forest workers of the Sarugara range of Baikunthapur division, based on a tip-off, searched a bus in Matigara on Wednesday morning under the leadership of Range Officer Sanjay Dutta.
During the operation, 15 Indian flapshell turtles, freshwater species of turtles, were rescued from the possession of Bhavan Sarkar of Gangarampur. The reptiles were hidden inside a few bags and the bus was detained by the forest department.
Reportedly, the turtles were being brought to Siliguri via Bihar and Gangarampur by bus. Jayanta Mandal, assistant forest officer of the Baikunthapur division, said that the turtles were smuggled for poaching. One person has been arrested in the incident and was produced at the Jalpaiguri court today.