Smuggling of Assam’s endangered Golden Langurs busted in West Bengal, 6 arrested

In a major breakthrough against the illegal wildlife trade, police in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district on Saturday rescued four endangered Golden Langurs, a rare primate species native to Assam, from smugglers operating in the Beldanga area.

Acting on a tip-off, the police intercepted two vehicles near the Bhabta railway gate under Berhampore sub-division. The vehicles, bearing registration numbers WB-02Z-8382 and WB-52BE-1786, were found transporting the rare species in violation of wildlife protection laws.

A total of six individuals were arrested in connection with the trafficking operation. The accused have been identified as:

Mithu Das (33),

Titu Das (29),

Samil Hossain Biswas (39),

Rafikul Mondal (29),

Hasibul Mondal (25), and

Biswajit Bag (23).

Authorities confirmed that the rescued primates are Golden Langurs (Trachypithecus geei), a species listed as endangered under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act. This species, found primarily in western Assam and parts of Bhutan, is critically threatened due to habitat loss and illegal trafficking.

Police have launched a wider investigation to unearth the full extent of the trafficking network and trace the original location from where the langurs were captured. Wildlife officials have also been engaged to assess the health of the rescued animals and ensure their safe rehabilitation.