Patna Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) intercepted a major wildlife smuggling attempt at Patna Junction on March 20, 2026. During a search of the Delhi-Malda Town Farakka Express (13484), officials recovered more than 100 live turtles. Five individuals, including a woman, were taken into custody for illegally transporting these protected species from Uttar Pradesh to West Bengal.
How did the GRP catch the smugglers at Patna Junction?
The operation took place around 4 AM on Platform Number 3 following a secret tip received by the police. As soon as the Farakka Express arrived, the GRP team led by Inspector Rajesh Kumar Sinha conducted a thorough search. The turtles were found packed in bags, intended for the illegal market where their value is estimated to be in lakhs or even crores of rupees. Rail DSP Bhaskar Ranjan confirmed that the arrested individuals have been involved in similar activities before and their criminal records are being checked.
Details of the Seizure and Arrests
The wildlife department has taken custody of the recovered turtles to ensure their safe return to a natural habitat. The arrested suspects are reportedly residents of Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, and were using the rail network to move the shipment to West Bengal. Authorities have intensified checks across major stations to curb such organized wildlife crimes during the festive season.
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Incident Date | 20 March 2026 |
| Time of Action | 4:00 AM |
| Train Name | Delhi-Malda Town Farakka Express (13484) |
| Quantity Seized | Over 100 Live Turtles |
| Number of Arrests | 5 People (including 1 woman) |
| Suspects Origin | Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh |
