The Forest Department in Malkangiri district has intensified its crackdown on illegal tortoise trafficking and trade.

Acting swiftly on a tip-off, officials seized 85 tortoises and arrested three accused near Anantapalli village under Malavaram panchayat in Kalimela block.

Forester Dipankar Siuli, Forest Guard Partha Sarathi Rout, and Motu Revenue Inspector Suresh Kumar Pujari led a special team and intercepted traders on Anantapalli Road. The team seized the tortoises along with two motorcycles used in the smuggling operation.

Authorities identified the accused as Pran Gopal Das (51), Haradhar Mandal (35), and Sudhanshu Pal from MPV-81 village. Officials reported that 39 of the 85 tortoises had already died. They weighed the live tortoises, examined them at the local veterinary hospita

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