​​​​​​​Balasore, Sept 19: In a significant crackdown on smuggling of wildlife, Railway Protection Force (RPF) recovered 17 live tortoises at Balasore railway station in Odisha and detained two persons in this connection.

The detained individuals have been identified as both residents of Balasore district.

According to the South Eastern Railway (SER), the officials of RPF were conducting a routine check in the Bhadrak–Kharagpur passenger train on Thursday when they recovered a total of 17 live tortoises packed inside bags. Later, they detained the two individuals along with the tortoises.

Thereafter, they were taken to the RPF post and subsequently handed over to the Chandipur wildlife range authorities for further legal proceedings under wildlife protection laws.

Further investigation into the matter is underway.