Police in Morang district arrested four persons in possession of a tortoise, weighing 8 kg, on Saturday night. They were allegedly smuggling the tortoise. 

The arrested have been identified as Jiban Gurung (43), a resident of Sanishchare Municipality-1, and Meghraj Thapa (25), Niraj Khadka (21), and Aakash Rayamajhi (20), all residents of Sukrabare in Sunbarshi Municipality-1 in Morang district,

Jiwan and Meghraj were riding on a motorcycle with vehicle registration number ME 10 PA 562. Security personnel deployed from the Rangeli-based Area Police Office nabbed them in possession of the tortoise. The police also arrested Niraj and Aakash who were involved in the offence while they were riding a motorcycle with vehicle registration number KO 23 PA 5931. They were apprehended from Sunbarshi Municipality-8 during a routine vehicle check.

They have been handed over to the Rangeli-based Division Forest Office, Morang for necessary action, informed District Police Office, Morang.