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.
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.
