(IN) Stolen marmosets back in Kolkata zoo, accused escapes on way

[Guest guest]

http://www.samaylive.com/news/stolen-monkeys-back-in-kolkata-zoo-accused-escapes\

-on-way/652834.html

 

Stolen marmosets back in Kolkata zoo, accused escapes on way

(Source: IANS)

Kolkata: The prime accused in the theft of Brazilian Marmoset monkeys from a

Kolkata zoo gave the slip to his police guards and fled from a train in Orissa

Monday while being brought here for interrogation, police said. The monkeys have

been brought back too.

 

Deputy Commissioner (detectives) Javed Shamim said Rajesh Saikia, arrested

Saturday from Chhattisgarh from where the monkeys were also recovered, was found

missing around 4.45 a.m. Monday when the train - Howrah-bound Ahmedabad Express

- stopped at Jharsuguda station.

 

" There were four police constables alongside two forest department officials

guarding Saikia in the compartment. The constables have not returned and are

searching for Saikia at Jharsuguda, " said Shamim, who has been asked by the West

Bengal government to give a report on the 35-year-old accused's disappearance.

 

He said the city police were in touch with their counterparts at Jharsuguda.

" The police superintendent of the district has been apprised of the incident. A

massive manhunt has been launched to nab Saikia. We've got some leads. "

 

An eyewitness at Jharsuguda said one Railway Protection Force (RPF) constable

chased Saikia when he found him fleeing, but his efforts proved futile.

 

Saikia was being brought to the city on transit remand. Based on his

interrogation in Chhattisgarh, Sujoy Das alias Bubai Bangali was nabbed Saturday

from neighbouring North 24 Pargana district's Dum Dum area.

 

Of the eight Marmosets stolen from the Alipore Zoological Gardens, seven were

recovered alive from Bhilai in Durg district of Chhattisgarh, while one died of

exhaustion while being transported 900 km from Kolkata.

 

The seven monkeys have been brought to the zoo by the same train.

 

Alipore zoo director Raju Das told mediapersons that the monkeys will be kept

under observation for a few days. " We will see whether they have any ailment or

show abnormal behaviour. If they are found ok, then they will again be on

display for the public. "

 

----------

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/states/other-states/article12530.ece

 

The main accused in the sensational theft of rare Brazilian monkeys from a zoo

here escaped from police custody on Monday while he was being brought in a train

from Chhattisgarh, where he was arrested on Saturday.

 

Rajesh Saikia alias Raj, who was being brought to Kolkata on the Ahmedabad

Express on transit remand, was found 'missing' when the train stopped at

Jharsuguda station in Orissa, a top police official said.

 

According Kolkata police sources, two police officers along with two officials

of Alipore zoo, from where the marmosets were stolen last month, were escorting

Saikia.

 

'Immediately an FIR was lodged and a massive manhunt started,' said the

official.

 

However, no one has been arrested so far.

 

Chhattisgarh police had arrested Saikia last week from Durg district and rescued

seven of the eight monkeys stolen from the zoo. One of the monkeys had died.

 

Police had said they were investigating whether he had links with any

international gang involved in smuggling of rare animals.

 

Acting on information provided by him, Sujoy Das alias Bubai Bangali was

arrested from Dum Dum in North 24-Parganas district.

 

Meanwhile, the monkeys reached the zoo safely this afternoon. They were ferried

on the same train.

 

--

Thank you for your compassion !

With best regards,

Debasis Chakrabarti

Compassionate Crusaders Trust

http://www.animalcrusaders.org