Overview
- The raid, which took place on the intervening night of June 19–20, led the Special Task Force and Chirang police to stop two vehicles on NH‑27 and arrest nine suspected traffickers.
- Officials identified the group as including one Bangladeshi national and suspects from West Bengal and Assam and said two cars, 13 mobile phones and documents were seized.
- Forest teams recovered eight golden langurs from the vehicles but one died from suffocation during transit while seven were handed to veterinarians for treatment and rehabilitation.
- Authorities lodged a formal case (OR 01/26) with the Runikhata Range and transferred the accused, animals and seized items to the Forest Department as investigations seek wider interstate and international links.
- Golden langurs are a Schedule I protected species with an estimated black‑market value of about ₹16 lakh each and conservation groups warn the bust highlights ongoing threats from organised smugglers and local intermediaries selling animals from Ultapani/Oltapani areas.