Gayaji/Patna: The Railway Protection Force has intercepted a major case of wildlife smuggling in Bihar, recovering 102 live turtles from the Doon Express at Gayaji railway station in the second such seizure within a week.
The haul, made under “Operation Vilep”, is estimated to be worth around Rs 51 lakh in the illegal wildlife market. Earlier this week, officials had recovered 74 turtles from another train, pointing to repeated attempts to use the rail network for trafficking protected species.
According to officials, the operation was carried out by personnel from the Railway Protection Force post at Gayaji during routine patrolling of train number 13010, the Doon Express. Assistant sub-inspector Pawan Kumar and his team noticed a suspicious bag in coach S3 and began checking the area.
“During inspection, we found 102 live turtles hidden inside a bag and a backpack,” said Banarasi Yadav, inspector in charge of the RPF post at Gayaji. “The passenger seated nearby failed to give any explanation about the consignment.”
The turtles were later handed over to the Forest Department, where range officer Aarti Kumari confirmed that all the animals were received alive and in stable condition.
Officials said a case has been registered and further investigation is under way to identify those involved in the smuggling attempt. The RPF said the operation underlined its role not only in ensuring passenger safety but also in supporting wildlife conservation efforts.
Railway and forest authorities have warned that surveillance on trains passing through Bihar has been intensified, as enforcement agencies seek to dismantle networks involved in the illegal trade of wildlife using public transport routes.
