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Krittivas Mukherjee in Calcutta
Criminal minds will never cease to innovate.
But, even in these times when one's familiarity with crime is more than a passing nod, this one racket will leave most stumped -- making money from rhinoceros urine.
Calcutta Police seem to have burst a flourishing illegal trade in rhino urine in the city zoo.
The Alipore Zoo has two rhinos that are allegedly being made to relieve themselves 'numerous' times a day for their 'prized' urine which sells for as much as Rs 250 a litre.
According to joint commissioner of police Raj Kanoria, rhino urine was being sold outside the zoo for its supposed curative powers by quacks.
Gullible buyers are being told that rhino urine is an important ingredient in Chinese and Unani systems of medicine.
The racket's chain begins inside the zoo where unscrupulous elements make the animals urinate, allegedly by using drugs, at night. The urine is then collected in plastic bags and stored in the zoo staff quarters.
According to figures provided by zoo authorities, the two rhinos relieve about 10 litres of urine everyday, but investigations now reveal that racketeers could be doping the animals to make them relieve more often.
The packed urine is then sold as medicine for as much as Rs 250 a litre.
Kanoria said police were trying to ascertain how the animals were being made to relieve so many times a day. The whole operation takes place around midnight near the staff quarters opposite the zoo.
Police began inquiring into the racket after receiving complaints from residents of the area. Zoo authorities have said three staff members look after the zoo's two rhinos. Police suspect the involvement of zoo staff in the racket.
Rhinos are a protected species and sale of rhino urine is prohibited under wildlife laws. It is a popular belief that urine of tiger and many other animals, including rhinoceros, have medicinal value, but wildlife experts denied this.
"There is no medicinal property in the urine and faeces of the rhino, tiger and other animals. A section of unscrupulous people just make money out of such claims," according to wildlife expert Atanu Raha.
Police have so far questioned four people in the case, but it was not yet known if any arrests had been made.
Indo-Asian News Service
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