The police in Cooch Behar have taken certain steps to check the deaths of Mohans or Black Soft-shell Turtles in Baneswar of the district.

In the past four-five days, around 10 such turtles have died after being mowed down by cars when they were crossing the road. This prompted the Mohan Raksha Committee, working for conservation of the species at Baneswar, to express their concern.

“In the past one year, 41 turtles have died in accidents. We have called a six-hour strike on Thursday as a protest and will observe it. Also, we have sent a letter to the chief minister, seeking her intervention to stop the deaths of turtles in road accidents,” said Parimal Barman, secretary of the committee.

Located some 12km from the district headquarters, Baneswar is a historical site. Here, the turtles dwell in an old pond. The accidents occur in a road near the pond.

Dytiman Bhattacharya, the superintendent of police of Cooch Behar, said they have set up banners to alert drivers so that they drive at low speed as the turtles often cross the road. Also, policemen have been engaged to make public announcements to prevent the deaths of turtles.

“We have identified locations through which turtles cross the road. These have been marked as corridors and thus, drivers have been advised to drive slowly. Along with banners, ride barriers have been installed and public announcements are being made,” added Bhattacharya.

Residents of the area said most of the deaths have occurred along the stretch that connects a local petrol pump with a Kudidor-Battala Chowpathi – a road crossing.

The species, known as Nilssonnia nigricans, has also been marked as a critically endangered species in the red data book of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

Compensation

The state forest department on Wednesday handed over cheques of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the four persons who had lost their lives in the elephant attack at Mathabhanga block of Cooh Behar district last week.

A herd of six elephants entered the area and went on roaming around. They attacked and killed the persons who had ventured close to the animals.

A member from each of these affected families will also be provided with a job, said a forester.