The theft took place on the intervening night of February 19 and 20 and the complaint was lodged with the local police on February 23. In his complaint, zoo Inspector Sada Ram informed the police that thieves took away rare birds, including love birds, budgerigars, cockatiels and golden hen (sunehri murgi). In the markets of Delhi and Calcutta, these rare birds would fetch Rs 50,000.

According to Sada Ram, the thieves used hacksaws to remove the locks of four cages in a row. He said the theft was detected on February 20 morning by the chowkidar who was on night duty when the incident took place. The zoo chowkidar, Ishwar, has been placed under suspension till the departmental inquiry against him is pending.

This was the second theft of rare birds in the month of February. On February 3, 80 birds were detected missing from Chhatbir Zoological Garden. Surprisingly, the police are clueless in both the cases which are identical in nature. The modus operandi adopted by thieves in these cases was same.

SHO Tula Ram told Newsline that the matter was being investigated to ascertain the facts. Ruling out the involvement of a professional gang, he suspected the connivance of some zoo officials in the theft.

Two months back, the Pinjore Zoo officials had lodged a complaint of similar theft of 15 birds with the police. Interestingly, the missing birds were later `recovered' by the zoo officials, he added. A resident of Pinjore was hauled up for questioning, but nothing substantial was found, the SHO added.

The Deputy Chief Conservator of Wildlife was not available for comments.

Meanwhile, as a cover up attempt, the zoo officials have replaced the boards inscribing the names of the missing birds. Also, 20 birds have been brought in here from Ambala.