Over 300 endangered turtles found hidden in AC First-Class coach of Patna-Indore Express

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3 min readBhopalFeb 15, 2026 07:15 AM IST

Rajput, a four-year railway employee working through a private contracting agency, allegedly admitted receiving the bags from an unidentified contact in Lucknow.

The AC First-Class coach of the Patna-Indore Express train should have been carrying business executives reclining in cushioned berths. Instead, on a sweltering afternoon at Sant Hirdaram railway station, forest officers discovered a different kind of passenger — over 300 endangered turtles, stacked like contraband in the shadows of India’s most expensive passenger compartment.

RPF officials said they were on a routine check when they noticed the suspicious behaviour of Ajay Singh Rajput, a coach attendant aboard the Patna-Indore Express, who caught their attention. A search of his two bags revealed dozens of small, live Indian tent turtles — a fully-protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.

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Rajput, a four-year railway employee working through a private contracting agency, allegedly admitted receiving the bags from an unidentified contact in Lucknow.

“As a first-class coach attendant, Rajput enjoyed privileges that made him an ideal courier. He had access to a private cabin and bedding storage compartments, spaces rarely checked during routine inspections. The bags sat camouflaged among personal items and linens, invisible to passengers and, under normal circumstances, to authorities,” said a senior police officer.

The trail began not in Madhya Pradesh, but hundreds of kilometers away, along the muddy banks of the Ganga and other clean, flowing river systems where these Indian Tent Turtles thrive. These small, soft-shelled reptiles, reaching up to 350 mm in length with distinctive tent-shaped carapaces, play an outsized ecological role. They feed on algae, acting as natural cleaners that help maintain oxygen levels and river health.

According to investigators, local collectors “working as ground-level operatives trapped turtles from wetlands and tributaries under cover of darkness. The reptiles were then funnelled into a distribution chain that spanned at least five districts of Lucknow, Kanpur, Unnao, Sultanpur, and Amethi”.

Police also arrested one Asif Khan, a resident of Dewas district in western Madhya Pradesh. Detained on February 10 after days on the run, Khan is now under custodial interrogation. Forest officials believe his network stretches beyond state lines, potentially linking financiers and black-market distributors across Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.

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All 311 seized turtles are now in the protective custody of forest department authorities. Wildlife veterinarians examining the animals reported signs of dehydration and stress. “Those deemed healthy enough will be released into clean, flowing natural water bodies where the species can survive, environments increasingly rare as India’s rivers face mounting pressures,” said a senior wildlife official.

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

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