In a significant operation, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) has successfully intercepted and rescued 78 live turtles from the Doon Express train. The discovery was made early Friday morning on the Yog Nagari Rishikesh-Howrah route (Train No. 13010) during a special drive under ‘Operation WILEP’. The rescued reptiles, identified as Indian flapshell turtles, are estimated to be worth approximately 7.8 lakh Indian Rupees in the black market.
Acting on a tip-off regarding the illicit smuggling of wildlife in the women’s coach, the RPF task team, under the directives of the Senior Divisional Security Commissioner, Dhanbad, swiftly mobilized to Platform No. 02. Upon the train’s arrival, a thorough search of the designated coach was conducted.
During the inspection, six unclaimed cloth bags were found concealed beneath a seat. When questioned, no female passengers claimed ownership of the bags. Based on suspicion, the bags were opened, revealing the 78 live turtles packed within jute sacks. The RPF immediately seized the turtles and initiated proceedings under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. The Forest Department was promptly informed and arrived at the scene to take custody of the rescued animals. An investigation has been launched against unknown smugglers, marking a crucial step in curbing wildlife trafficking.