Pramesh S Jain & Yogesh K Porwar
Continuing investigations into attempt to smuggle star tortoises case,officials of CID forest cell with the help of wildlife activists raided three more places including two pet shops and a house in Koramangala belonging to a businessman and rescued six more tortoises from them.
The racket came to light in May this year when alert conductor of private bus at Anand Rao circle averted a smuggling attempt of 218 endangered star tortoises when he observed movement in a passenger’s bags.
The passenger tried boarding a private bus at Anand Rao Circle to go to Chennai,but he abandoned the luggage and fled the scene after conductor questioned him about the movement in the bags.
The rescued tortoises were sent People for Animals (PFA)rescue centre.
Following the leads the officials on Wednesday raided two pets shops situated in Vidyaranyapura and Nagarabhavi from where the star tortoises were sourced .
Based on their information,the police raided a house in Koramangala and rescued three more tortoises which were bought and kept as pets in the pond for good will.
The accused have been booked under various sections of protection of wildlife act for further investigations.
