Photo Courtesy: nenews
Guwahati: Assam police have dismantled an active wildlife trafficking ring following a successful operation in the Chirang district that led to the rescue of eight endangered golden langurs. Acting on intelligence, a team from the Special Task Force in Guwahati collaborated with local officers from the Sidli Police Station to intercept two vehicles along National Highway 27 late Friday night.
Authorities stopped a Mahindra Scorpio and a Tata Nano at Kashikotra, discovering the primates packed inside the vehicles. While eight langurs were found alive, police also recovered one deceased animal, revealing the severe conditions these creatures endured during transport. An official noted that the recovery highlights the harsh and inhumane conditions in which the animals were allegedly being transported.
Nine individuals are now in custody, including Jamal Ali from Dhaka and five suspects from West Bengal: Alamgir Molla, Fakir Chand Mondal, Khalek Mondal, Latibul Sheikh, and Inzamamul Haque. Three local residents, identified as Pinkush Narzary, Ranit Narzary, and Jackson Biswakarma, were also apprehended. Investigators believe the langurs were sourced from the Sikhna Jwhwlao National Park, where encroachers allegedly captured the animals for sale.
The surviving primates are currently under the care of forest authorities for medical treatment and rehabilitation. Meanwhile, the Special Task Force has launched a wider investigation to identify other members of the smuggling network.
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