Turtle Traffickers Nabbed with 51 Live Flap Shell Turtles in Malkangiri
Malkangiri: A joint team of Motu Forest staff and Revenue officials intercepted a motorcycle at Kamarguda culvert in Malkangiri district and rescued 51 live Indian Flap Shell Turtles on Thursday night.
The riders, Suraj Mandal and Jayanta Bachhad, were arrested for violating the Wildlife Protection Act.
The turtles, weighing about 160 kg, were being trafficked from Vemullarai in Andhra Pradesh to MPV-47 in Odisha for trading and consumption purposes.The team also seized the motorcycle, two gunny bags, and a mobile phone. Both accused were produced before the JMFC Court, which rejected their bail plea. They have been remanded to judicial custody.
