Man arrested for running turtle home delivery service at New Town

KOLKATA: The kingpin of a gang that used to receive orders over the phone and deliver turtles at doorsteps in New Town, Rajarhat and its adjacent areas, was arrested on Thursday. Two Indian softshell turtles, weighing 5kg each, have been seized from the accused, Sankar Mondal. People used to buy the tortoises for meat.

Acting on a tip-off, officers from forest department's wildlife crime control unit contacted the accused, posing as buyers. Mondal, lured by good prices, had come to them on a bike with the turtles in a bag. The officers nabbed him immediately.

During interrogation, the accused confessed to running the turtle delivery business in New Town areas. A probe has be launched to ascertain where the accused used to procure the turtles from and identity other members of the racket.

Forest officials said catching, killing or selling these turtles is illegal and it may lead to imprisonment and fine.