Inter-State racket whiff as two arrested in Odisha for smuggling monkeys from Andhra Pradesh

Berhampur: Forest sleuths of  Berhampur Division have arrested two persons for their alleged involvement in smuggling monkeys from Andhra Pradesh. As per reports, the accused were transporting the primates in an auto across the border from an undisclosed area of the neighbouring state on August 30. Forest officials, on getting the information, apprehended them at around midnight and found that as many as 25 monkeys were being transported in eight sacks. Of these, 20 had died. The rest were immediately rescued and are now being treated, sources said. The arrested accused have been produced in court and remanded in judicial custody.

It is still uncertain as to why the monkeys were being taken in such an inhuman manner, to whom they were to be handed over and if there’s a larger inter-State racket involved. Police is yet to establish links and points of contacts of the accused. Further investigation is underway.