August 17, 2011  

PNS | DEHRADUN

Three people were arrested in Haridwar with 170 turtles in their possession. The turtles were meant to be sold illegally in aquarium and shops in Dehradun and Haridwar.

The Haridwar divisional forest officer conducted a raid under the directions of the additional principal chief conservator of forests with the assistance of two NGOs.

The turtles rescued belonged to two species, both listed as protected species trade of which is banned in India.

Acting on a tip-off received from informants, additional PCCF Jairaj directed an operation headed by the Haridwar DFO Gopal Rana with the cooperation of Wildlife Protection Society of India and Endangered Flora and Fauna on Earth Conservation Team. The joint team raided the Jwalapur railway station where they arrested a person with 170 turtles. The man was identified as Sunil Kumar, a resident of Shahjahanpur, UP who had also been arrested earlier in UP with 400 turtles about two months ago.

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