Five days after the rescue of five rare orangutan infants from Balasore, the mystery surrounding their alleged trafficking continues to deepen. Investigators are now probing whether the incident is linked to an international wildlife smuggling network operating across Odisha, West Bengal and beyond.
From Balasore to Digha, Digha to Kolkata and then back towards Howrah, investigators are tracing the suspected movement of the animals and the people allegedly involved in the racket. Despite an intensive investigation, the suspected mastermind behind the operation remains elusive.
The Crime Branch STF has reportedly examined CCTV footage from more than 50 hotels and questioned over 40 people in connection with the case. Investigators are attempting to establish who brought the five orangutan infants to Odisha, who they were intended for and where they were ultimately supposed to be transported.
Amid the ongoing investigation, an alleged exclusive lead has emerged concerning a black Mahindra Thar that reportedly travelled to the Bichitrapur camp late on the night of September 7.
The vehicle has now become a key focus of the investigation. Questions are being raised over its ownership and the identity of the people who travelled in it. Investigators are also examining the alleged connection of a father-son duo associated with a hotel in Digha to the suspected wildlife trafficking network.
The sequence of movements between Balasore, Digha, Kolkata and Howrah has further intensified suspicion of a wider trafficking chain. Investigators are trying to determine whether Odisha was being used as a transit route for the rare animals before they were moved elsewhere.
Several crucial questions remain unanswered: Who brought the orangutans? Who was supposed to receive them? Was Odisha merely a transit point? And was the operation connected to an international wildlife smuggling network?
The Crime Branch STF is continuing its investigation, while the identity of the alleged mastermind remains one of the biggest unanswered questions in the case. With new CCTV footage and vehicle-related leads emerging, the investigation could reveal more details about the suspected trafficking network in the coming days.