Assam: Timbers worth Rs 3.5 lakhs seized in Kokrajhar

While citizens across the state are busy in the nationwide lockdown due to COVID-19, deforestation and timber smuggling are getting increase day by day in Kokrajhar district of Bodoland Territorial Council(BTC), Assam.

Anti-corruption and crime investigation front, Bodoland environmental protection society and Athiabari forest staff seized illegally stored sawn timbers at Laokhriguri (Gandabill) in Kokrajhar district, Assam.

Earlier, intensifying strict operations against deforestation and timber smuggling, forest department staff had seized huge numbers of illegally smuggled timber at Birhangaon on June 29^th, 2020 evening in Chirang district in Assam.

In a joint operation team comprising NCIB, Chirang, Assam and Basugaon forest staff with a protection squad led by Kunjan Basumatary, depot officer at Birhangaon (Barigara), a large number of illegally stored timbers have been seized which were smuggled by timber mafias. Seized timbers were later brought to Chirang forest division office at Kajalgaon. However, no one was arrested.

Market value of the seized timbers would be approximately INR 3.5 lakhs.

A few days ago, forest department seized seven illegally run sawmill and detected three dumpers in which sand mining illegally was carried in the district.

Forest officer Kunjan Basumatary told that the timbers were seized during the search operation. He informed that forest department and protection squad team have been taking stern measures against the deforestation and timber smuggling in the region.

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