Kolkata, May 16 : Railway staff has rescued over 1000 turtles from smugglers at the Howrah Railway station. It has handed over the turtles to the forest department.

The live turtles were kept inside a parcel box. Their movement attracted the notice of the railway police.

"It is a banned item and no one can book it. There was heavy rain last night and the box was torn and because of that the tortoises were coming out. We have taken necessary steps. The forest department has been informed. They will come and take them," said Somnath Chatterjee, a senior railway police officer. (ANI)