Forest officials seized 631 live tortoises during a raid in Motu area of Malkangiri district near the Odisha–Andhra Pradesh border, which borders Bastar region of Chhattisgarh. Seven people, including two traders from Andhra Pradesh, were arrested in connection with the smuggling attempt. According to forest department officials, the raid was carried out late Wednesday night following a tip-off about illegal wildlife trading in the area. Authorities said two traders from Andhra Pradesh were allegedly attempting to sell the tortoises to five other individuals when forest personnel reached the spot and conducted the operation. All seven accused were apprehended at the scene. During the raid, officials recovered 631 live tortoises weighing nearly two tonnes. The tortoises were found packed in 38 trays. Forest officials also seized a four-wheeler, two motorcycles and six mobile phones believed to have been used in the trafficking operation. The value of the seized tortoises is estimated to be several lakhs of rupees in the illegal wildlife market.

 

The rescued tortoises have been taken into the custody of the Forest Department as part of the standard wildlife protection protocol. One shop owner said around 15 workers depend on the stall for their daily income, and closure would affect several families. Some vendors have temporarily shifted to cooking on traditional stoves using wood, coal or small furnaces, but they say such arrangements cannot support full-scale food preparation.Business owners also claim that cylinders available in the market are sometimes being sold at higher prices, increasing operational costs. As a result, the usually crowded Civic Centre has started appearing quieter, with some stalls already reducing their operations. Meanwhile, the district administration has begun a special inspection drive to check the illegal use of domestic LPG cylinders in commercial establishments. On the instructions of the district collector, teams from the Food Department are inspecting hotels, restaurants and eateries where complaints of domestic cylinder misuse have been reported. During the checks, several cylinders used for commercial purposes were seized and operators were warned to follow regulations. District Food Controller Anurag Bhadauria said domestic LPG cylinders are subsidised and meant only for household use, while commercial establishments must use designated commercial cylinders. He added that strict action will be taken against violations.