Umerkote: Forest department officials busted a turtle smuggling racket Monday by seizing 119 turtles and arresting a person during patrolling at Nuaguda Square of this town in Nabarangpur district. The turtles were being brought from Kalahandi district to Nabarangpur. The arrested person has been identified as Rajesh Das.
He informed the police that he was taking the turtles to Kumuli village under Raighar block in Nabarangpur district. He said that the reptiles were being smuggled to markets that sell turtle meat. A medical examination was conducted on the turtles before releasing them in a water body, Umerkote forest ranger Anup Singh Pujari said.