Nabarangpur: The Forest Department officials arrested four people at Jharigaan for allegedly smuggling rare turtles from Gatamunda to Umerkote in Nabarangpur district. The officials rescued 176 live turtles and two bikes from them.
The four smugglers are from Kalahandi area, officials said.
The forest department caught the smugglers while the turtles were being smuggled from Kalahandi district to Umerkote area.
On a tip-off, a team of forest and wildlife officials reached the spot and rescued nearly two quintals of 176 live turtles.
The rescued turtles were kept in Jharigaon Central Nursery. The four people involved in smuggling have been arrested.
