Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The State Tiger Strike Force, Bhopal, arrested the kingpin of a gang involved in the smuggling of wild animals. The suspect Ravindra alias Raman Kashyap was held from an AC coach of a train in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh.
In this operation, the agency took help of Uttar Pradesh STF. The suspect had been evading the agency for two months by frequently changing locations. He was produced before a court and taken on remand. On April 3, Ajay Singh Rajput was arrested from Sant Hirdaram Nagar Railway Station in a joint operation by State Tiger Strike Force, Railway Police Force and Forest Division, Bhopal. A total of 311 live rare turtles were seized from him.
Based on inputs provided by the suspect, officials conducted raids in Neemuch, Mandsaur, Ratlam, Indore, Dewas, Ujjain, Nagda, Shajapur, and Lucknow. During interrogation, the name of the kingpin Ravindra alias Raman Kashyap had emerged.
The gang was involved in the smuggling of rare wild animals and used trains for the purpose. Those held included attendants of first-class coaches of trains. So far, seven suspects have been held from Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
