Kolkata Zoo director suspended in connection to Marmoset theft

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*http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090811/jsp/calcutta/story_11344539.jsp*

*Zoo director suspended*

*A STAFF REPORTER*

 

*Alipore zoo director Subir Kumar Chowdhury was suspended on Monday in

connection with the theft of eight rare monkeys, called Common Marmosets. *

 

*“We have suspended Alipore zoo director S.K. Chowdhury on the basis of a

preliminary probe into the theft of the rare monkeys from the zoo. He will

remain suspended pending a detailed inquiry,” said K.S. Rajendra Kumar, the

principal secretary in the department of forest. *

 

*Chowdhury refused to comment on his suspension. “I am shocked and cannot

say anything on the decision,” he said.*

 

*The joint director of the Sunderbans Biosphere Reserve, Raju Das, will take

over as the zoo director. *

 

*Sources said senior officials in the forest department decided on

Chowdhury’s suspension after discussing the matter with minister Ananta Ray.

Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, too, was informed about the

“punitive action” before it was announced. *

 

*Officials at Writers Buildings said a report submitted by police to the

home secretary on Monday pointed at loopholes in the zoo’s security. *

 

*“There is no fool-proof security in the compound which is home to several

rare and endangered animals. The zoo authorities failed to learn any lesson

even after foiling an attempt to steal a Common Marmoset in March,” said a

senior officer at Lalbazar. *

 

*Two zoo guards were arrested on Monday morning in connection with the

theft, which came to light early on Sunday, even as the detective department

took over the probe from Watgunge police station. *

 

*“Ashok Patra and Shyam Sunder Ghosh were arrested following incongruities

in their statements. A preliminary probe hints at the involvement of some

insiders in the theft of the Brazilian monkeys,” said an officer. *

 

*Ashok, who was on duty from 10pm on Saturday to 6am on Sunday, was assigned

the task of keeping a watch on the enclosure from where the tiny mammals

went missing. Shyam had guarded the same enclosure from 5pm on Saturday till

Ashok’s shift started. *

 

*A private agency is responsible for the zoo’s security. The agency deploys

34 guards daily — 20 from 9am to 5pm and 14 from 10pm to 6am. “In the

intervening period, the enclosures are looked after by zoo employees who are

not trained guards. There is also no surveillance on the guards from the

private agency,” said a police officer. *

 

*For the Marmoset enclosures, the private guards are deployed

round-the-clock except for three hours — from 6am to 9am *

 

*The police conducted raids in several places throughout Monday in search of

the stolen monkeys. “We are keeping a close watch on all entry and exit

points of the city,” the officer said. *

 

*The zoo, spread across 45 acres, houses 1,270 birds, 231 mammals and 66

reptiles.*