Bangladeshi national among nine nabbed for wildlife trafficking in Assam's Chirang district late Friday night. Assam Police's Special Task Force (STF) and local police carried out operation along Bamungaon Road under Sidli police station .
Authorities recovered eight golden langurs from suspects — one was dead. Golden langur, endangered species under Schedule I of Wildlife (Protection) Act,1972, has black market value of ₹16 lakh, officials said.
The arrested Bangladeshi,Mohammed Jamal,claimed to hail from Dhaka, entered India on June 15 . Entry suspected illegal. Five accomplices from West Bengal: Injamamul Hoque Mondal,Abdul Khalek Mondal,Fakir Chand Mandal, Alomgir Mulla,Latibul Shaikh. Remaining suspects,Jackson Biswakarma, Ranjit Narzary, Pinkush Narzary,from Assam.
Believed linked to larger international wildlife trafficking network. Transporting primates in two vehicles when intercepted. Chirang Divisional Forest Officer Kunjan Basumatary noted langurs kept in suffocating sacks, causing stress. Animals to be released back into habitat under magistrate's supervision.
Basumatary detailed langurs captured from Ultapani area of Kokrajhar district,trafficked through intermediaries in Chirang for delivery to buyers. Two vehicles used for smuggling seized . “Involvement of Bangladeshi national classifies this as international wildlife trafficking,” he stated. Investigations ongoing to see if others involved .
Earlier in week, 24-year-old woman from Dhaka arrested at Lokapriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport,Guwahati. Raised suspicions collecting baggage after flight from Bengaluru. Found using fake Aadhaar card.
State police's Border Branch and Border Security Force questioned her. Admitted being Bangladeshi from Narayanganj,near Dhaka. Reports say she entered India rd as Puja Das,showing West Bengal address.
After arrest, sent to transit camp in Matia,southwestern Assam's Goalpara district, for further legal proceedings. Same day as wildlife trafficking arrests, Guwahati police detained 13 suspected Bangladeshi nationals in routine verification drive. Found at guesthouse with questionable documents…
