“We had information about Kanjars trying to move out of the city with the turtles packed in gunny bags. Based on this information, our team was looking for them and waited till they arrived at the spot in the evening. Suspecting something amiss the poachers tried to flee but forest officials did not allow them to get away,” informed Chidiapur Range Officer, Jaikrit Singh Rana. He also informed that thethree culprits were produced before the court and sent in to 14-day judicial custody.

According to officials, they have confessed to have fished turtles from East Canal at Gaindikhata in Rishikesh. “Although in their confession the poachers have claimed that the turtles were meant for their personal consumption, it was difficult to believe that as many as 14 turtles were meant to be consumed at one meal,” said Rana. He said the interrogation was going on to establish the exact destination where the turtles were meant to be delivered.

“We are also trying to find out if these poachers were part of a bigger wildlife crime syndicate as turtles are mainly killed for their aphrodisiac qualities,” said Rana.

‘Kanjars, snake charmers involved in poaching’

According to wildlife activists, Kanjars and snake charmers are involved in poaching due to poverty. “They are living in abject poverty with no help coming from the State Government. Working as an agent of wildlife crime mafia fetches easy money for them,” said Rajendra Agarwal of WPSI.

“We have on several occasions helped forest officials raid and recover big cat skins from their dwellings,” said Aggarwal, adding, “The Government should do the needful for the resettlement as well as their uplift.”