Rare tortoise smuggling foiled

Imphal: Chandel Battalion under the aegis of IGAR(S) foiled an attempt to smuggle Radiated Tortoise, a rare wildlife species, close to the Indo Myanmar border in
Chandel district on Friday.

Acting on specific intelligence, regarding the smuggling of rare species of animal from across the border to Chandel, a team of Assam Rifles troops intercepted a two wheeler near Laiching village in Chandel district. On checking, four live Radiated Tortoises were recovered from the smuggler which were intended for further transportation to other parts of the country, the Assam Rifles said.

The market value of the tortoises was assessed to be approximately Rs 9 Lakh.

The tortoises alongwith the apprehended individual were handed over to district forest office for further investigation.