Siliguri, 20th November: Three turtles being smuggled in a vehicle by three wildlife smugglers were rescued by the forest workers of Sarugara Range of Baikunthapur Forest Department. The three arrested have been identified as Mohammad Hadij, Roshan Kumar Sahni and Surendra Kumar. All are residents of Bihar.
As per the information, a team of forest workers under the leadership of Sarugara Ranger Sanjay Dutta launched an operation at Darjeeling More of Siliguri at around four o’clock this morning. Acting on a tip-off, the team stopped a fish-laden pickup van in the said spot. Upon searching, the team found the reptiles hidden behind several thermocol fish boxes.
According to forest department sources, the said turtles were smuggled from Bhagalpur in Bihar to Siliguri. The accused have been produced in the Jalpaiguri court today. The Forest Department is probing the entire matter.