KOLKATA - The prime accused in the theft of Brazilian Marmoset monkeys from a Kolkata zoo gave the slip to his police guards and fled from a train in Orissa Monday while being brought here for interrogation, police said. The monkeys have been brought back too.

Deputy Commissioner (detectives) Javed Shamim said Rajesh Saikia, arrested Saturday from Chhattisgarh from where the monkeys were also recovered, was found missing around 4.45 a.m. Monay when the train - Howrah-bound Ahmedabad Express - stopped at Jharsuguda station.

“There were four police constables alongside two forest department officials guarding Saikia in the compartment. The constables have not returned and are searching for Saikia at Jharsuguda,” said Shamim, who has been asked by the West Bengal government to give a report on the 35-year-old accused’s disappearance.

He said the city police were in touch with their counterparts at Jharsuguda. “The police superintendent of the district has been apprised of the incident. A massive manhunt has been launched to nab Saikia. We’ve got some leads.”

An eyewitness at Jharsuguda said one Railway Protection Force (RPF) constable chased Saikia when he found him fleeing, but his efforts proved futile.

Saikia was being brought to the city on transit remand. Based on his interrogation in Chhattisgarh, Sujoy Das alias Bubai Bangali was nabbed Saturday from neighbouring North 24 Pargana district’s Dum Dum area.

Of the eight Marmosets stolen from the Alipore Zoological Gardens, seven were recovered alive from Bhilai in Durg district of Chhattisgarh, while one died of exhaustion while being transported 900 km from Kolkata.

The seven monkeys have been brought to the zoo by the same train.

Alipore zoo director Raju Das told mediapersons that the monkeys will be kept under observation for a few days. “We will see whether they have any ailment or show abnormal behaviour. If they are found ok, then they will again be on display for the public.”