BSF seizes huge quantity of tortoise bones, apprehend 3

The Border Security Force has seized a huge quantity of tortoise bones in two different operations in Malda district and apprehended three persons in this connection, a BSF release said.

Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of BSF and Forest department stopped a Malda-bound bus coming from Farakka near Baishnabnagar on NH 34 yesterday and seized around 60 kilogram of semi-dry tortoise bones packed in five bags, it said.

Three persons, all residents of Uttar Pradesh, were apprehended, the BSF release said.

In the second operation, the BSF personnel seized 40 kg of tortoise bones from a house at Chakmailpur village under the jurisdiction of Kaliachak police station yesterday, the release said.

The tortoise bones were likely to be smuggled to Bangladesh, they said.

The apprehended persons and the seized tortoise bones have been handed over to the Customs department at Kaliachak in Malda district for further action, it added.