The Government Railway Police (GRP) has seized 97 rare Indian flapshell turtles, locally known as 'Sundari turtles', here while they were being smuggled from Azamgarh to West Bengal, officials said on Monday.

The seizure was made on Sunday at a platform of the Ballia railway station, the GRP officials said, adding that three people -- two from West Bengal and one from UP -- were arrested in this connection. GRP Inspector VK Singh said the Sundari turles were kept in a sack by some people, who tried to flee the spot after as the police approached them.