Star tortoise seized, three arrested

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Forest Department on Sunday seized an Indian star tortoise from the baggage of a passenger, who had arrived from Coimbatore on Amritha Express, at Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station. Three persons hailing from Pollachi in Tamil Nadu were arrested in connection with the seizure. Acting on a tip-off received by the Forest Intelligence Cell, a team led by Range Officer C K Sudhish tracked Saravan, 24, Modilal, 27, and Malraj, 29, and seized the star tortoise weighing over one kg. The tortoise was brought to the capital for sale by the three-member team. On questioning, the accused told the forest officials that they got the tortoise while bathing in a river at Aliyar. But, the forest authorities have not taken their statement at face value. The tortoise, initially kept at the Forest headquarters, was handed over to the Partuthipally range. A case had been registered against the three persons under the Wildlife Act.