JHANSI: In a major breakthrough, police on Thursday confiscated 460 tortoises, marked under schedule one endangered species, from a man in Moth area of Jhansi district.
Acting on a tip off, a police team raided a bus travelling from Kanpur towards Jhansi which had halted at a Dhaba in Moth.
During the search, police saw the tortoises in possession of a man, packed in several plastic containers.
Police arrested the man and took him to the police station, where he revealed his identity as Mohd Afzal, 42 of Unnao.
The tortoises were being taken to Malegaon in Maharashtra from Kanpur.
Acoording to CO Moth, Dr Pradeep Kumar, “It seems to be the work of some big gang engaged in animal smuggling which is working at interstate level.
We are trying to identify the kingpin.” According to CO Moth, the confiscated animals come under schedule one endangered species.
Afzal was booked under section 9/51 Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and sent to jail.