New Delhi: What is usually seen as the safest and most exclusive space on Indian Railways has turned into the centre of a major wildlife crime investigation. In a joint operation, the Madhya Pradesh State Tiger Strike Force (STSF) along with the Railway Protection Force and the Bengal Forest Division, seized 311 rare and endangered turtles from the AC First-Class coach of the 19322 Patna-Indore Express at Sant Hirdaram railway station in Bhopal.
The turtles were being allegedly being transported by coach attendant Ajay Singh Rajput, who as per officials was working as a courier for an inter-state smuggling network. The consignment is believed to have originated from river systems in Uttar Pradesh, mainly the Ganga and Gomti before being routed in Madhya Pradesh and further towards western India.
Among the rescued reptiles were Crowned River Turtles, Indian Tent Turtles and Indian Roofed Turtles, all protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. Officials described the condition of the animals as alarming. Many were dehydrated and crammed into tight spaces for hours.
Network stretched across states
As per the investigators, local poachers in districts such as Lucknow, Kanpur, Unnao, Sultanpur and Amethi collected turtles from riverbanks and wetlands. The wildlife was then moved through railway routes using insiders to avoid suspicion.
A 17-and-a-half-year-old suspect from Lucknow has been detained and sent to a juvenile home in Bhopal. The alleged kingpin, Asif Khan from Dewas district, was also arrested on February 10 after evading authorities for several days. Officials believe that questioning him could expose a wider chain of handlers and buyers in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra.
Not an isolated case
This is not the first time railway corridors have been misused for wildlife smuggling. During Operation Kachchhap in 2023 also 955 live baby turtles were rescued in coordinated raids across multiple cities.
Under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, smuggling of protected turtle species can lead to up to seven years in jail. Even wildlife experts have warned that removing turtles from rivers harms fragile ecosystems as they play a key role in keeping water bodies clean and balanced.