https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

When Cops Come to the Rescue of Wildlife

In a swift operation, the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has rescued 1300 Indian flapshell turtles and arrested two persons. These precious and threatened turtles were being smuggled to West Bengal, but their ultimate destination was China and some other countries.
Indian Masterminds Stories

In India, the forest departments in various states have been entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding our precious flora and fauna. Mostly, they do commendable jobs which can be seen in several wonderful results- one recently example being the increase in the number of tigers all over India, which even Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi applauded. But at times, when the police force joins in the pro-wildlife acts, the results can be awesome.

Like it has happened in the Kanpur city of Uttar Pradesh. Just a few months after a big consignment of Indian flapshell turtles, a threatened species, was rescued under the guidance of SSP Etawah Mr Akash Tomar, another lot of 1,300 such turtles have been rescued again by the Uttar Pradesh Police’s Special Task Force. This seizure too was made in Kanpur. The rescue operation was put in action on February 7,2010 during which both the owner and the driver of a truck, where the turtles were being smuggled out, were nabbed.

Speaking with Mr. T B Singh, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), STF UP, Indian Masterminds found out how valuable consignment of turtles was being smuggled to Vangaon in West Bengal. The racket of smuggling these species of turtles is not only limited inside the boundaries of our country, but it is way bigger. The turtles are supplied to countries like China, Hong Kong and Malaysia via Bangladesh and Myanmar.

The two people who have been arrested, Rambrash Yadav and Vinod Kumar Savira, were carrying the smuggled turtles in sacks and many were also scattered in the truck. According to Mr. Singh, Vinod (truck owner) was into the transport business and used to smuggle these rare turtles for a fixed price for every consignment.

The two caught while smuggling the Indian flapshell turtles

While speaking to Indian Masterminds, Mr. Singh explained how these species are different from other, normal turtles and how this illegal racket is running in India.

FOUND IN PANCHNADA

Speaking about the rare species, Mr. Singh said “These turtles are found near Etah, Etawah and Mainpuri area in Panchnada (confluence of five rivers- Kunwari, Pahuj, Jamuna, Chambal, and Sind). This particular species of Indian flapshell turtles are not found anywhere in foreign countries and neither is any other river of India. Due to the unavailability of this particular species anywhere else, its demand becomes many times more.”

He further explained, “These turtles are found a few meters away from the river during the winter season. The main task of the roadside hunters is to fetch the right species of turtles, which are found in the Panchnada. After collecting a sufficient number of turtles, they sell them to the people who are operating the racket in India. There are around 10-15 people who are involved in this racket. They buy the turtles at a cheap rate from the local poachers and smuggle it to West Bengal.”

STRICT ACTION TAKEN

After interrogating the two people who have been caught, the police got to know about the entire racket, as also its international ramifications.

The police arrested the two and sent them to jail after rescuing 1,300 turtles from the truck. The UP STF team is also trying to get more information about the whole racket which is being operated in and outside the country.

This is the second successful rescue operation conducted by UP police in just three months. In all, more than three thousand Indian flapshell turtles have been rescued after conducting both the raids, first in Etawah and now in Kanpur.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Satpura Tiger Reserve
Satpura Tiger Reserve Sees New Tiger Cubs; Jhalai’s First Litter Captured
Madhya Pradesh Logo IM
Hotel & Resort Operators Can Now Conduct Jungle Safaris in MP Tiger Reserves
Sanjiv Bhatt Custodial Torture Case
Gujarat High Court Rejects Sanjiv Bhatt’s First-Class Prisoner Status Plea
Yogi Adityanath
Samarth Uttar Pradesh @2047: Over 53 Lakh Citizens Share Vision for Yogi Adityanath’s Prosperity Campaign
Haryana gov resized
Haryana Government Assigns Additional Charges to Three IAS Officers
Vishnu Deo Sai CM
Record-Breaking Diwali Trade in Chhattisgarh: Rs. 16,000 Crore Boost Fuels Economic Growth and 'Vocal for Local' Movement
CM Vishnu Sai Sohrai Karma Mahotsav 2025
Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Sai Celebrates Sohrai Karma Mahotsav 2025, Announces Major Grants and Development Projects for Rautia Community
8th pay commission
CSS Forum Urges PM Modi: Constitute 8th CPC Soon to Boost Employee Morale and Support ‘Developed India 2047’
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-23 at 10.40
Everybody Needs To Know What Is Transpiring Behind Closed Doors Of Courts
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
UPSC Journey Should Be Enjoyable, Not Cumbersome
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
The Many Facets of Former IRS Officer and Author, Giselle Mehta | Video Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Rupal Rana UPSC
How Rupal Rana Cracked UPSC CSE 2023 with AIR 26 After Four Attempts
UPSC Topper Rupal Rana secured AIR 26 in 2023 after four attempts. Learn her preparation strategy, booklist,...
Ankita Parashar RAS 2023
4 Attempts, 1 Dream, 0 Excuses: Meet RAS Topper Ankita Parashar, Who Fulfilled a Daughter’s Promise & Secured Rank 2 | Exclusive Interview
Ankita Parashar, a teacher-turned-officer from Pushkar, fulfilled her late father’s dream by securing...
Kushal Chaudhary RAS
From Lab Assistant’s Grit to Rajasthan Topper: How Kushal Chaudhary Topped RAS 2023 with Self-Study | Preparation, Strategy & Interview
Kushal Chaudhary, a farmer’s son and lab assistant from Ajmer, topped RAS 2023 through self-study, overcoming...
Social Media
IFS Parveen Kaswan
Heartbreak by the River: 15-Day-Old Elephant Calf Rejected by Mother, Rescued by IFS Parveen Kaswan and His Team
Jaldapra, West Bengal: In a moving incident that tugs at the heart, a 15-day-old elephant calf was rescued...
Ashwini Bhide IAS and Anand Mahindra
Who Is IAS Ashwini Bhide, Hailed as a Role Model for Mumbai Metro Transformation by Anand Mahindra?
From heritage to high-tech: Bhide’s leadership in Metro Line 3 earns public praise and admiration
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Satpura Tiger Reserve
Satpura Tiger Reserve Sees New Tiger Cubs; Jhalai’s First Litter Captured
Madhya Pradesh Logo IM
Hotel & Resort Operators Can Now Conduct Jungle Safaris in MP Tiger Reserves
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-23 at 10.40
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT