Devbhumi Dwarka: The Special Operations Group (SOG) of local police rescued 12 Indian star tortoises during a raid in the Bhanvad area on Thursday and detained a man for the illegal possession of protected wildlife.

As per the police, the operation was carried out following a tip-off that a local businessman was illegally keeping Indian star tortoises at his refrigerator manufacturing unit. Acting on the intelligence, the SOG team conducted a search at a shed located on the factory premises and recovered the tortoises. The factory owner, identified as Arjun Bhagani, failed to produce any valid documents authorising possession of the animals.

The Indian star tortoise is listed as a protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and its possession or trade without official permission is a punishable offense. A formal entry has been registered at the Bhanvad police station, and further legal action will be taken by the forest department. DeshGujarat