KalingaTimes Correspondent
Kendrapara, Nov. 22: The residents in Pattamundai urban area of this coastal Odisha district have spotted yet another soft-shell fresh water turtle, the body parts of which bore resemblance with Lord Jagannath.

But unlike the religion-bound people in Khadipala village, the locals who took possession of it have handed over the species to forest department.

“Some locals had preserved the animal with utmost care. The animal had been retrieved from the nearby riverbank.

“The people here are enlightened regarding animal welfare legal provisions. They unhesitatingly handed over the turtle which was later released into the river waters,” said officials.

Meanwhile, stalemate continues as residents in nearby Khadipala village continue to hold in confinement since past fortnight a fresh water turtle wearing similar look.

The state forest department had registered a case against the head of a Hindu mutt on the charge of unlawful confinement of the Schedule-1 animal.

Everyday the ‘confined' turtle is drawing crowd and it is being offered Puja. For the rustic villagers, the delicate species with markings on its carapace and bearing resemblance with state's presiding deity Lord Jagannath is the reincarnation of God.

Incidentally, in Hindu mythologies and legends, turtles are described as an incarnation of god.