Assam: Dhubri Forest Range Officer accused of seizing vehicles without proper documents, demanding money

A group of tractor drivers have lodged complaint against a Forest Range officer and forest guards for illegally seizing vehicles transporting sand, gravel and stones without proper documents or challan copy.

The drivers have also alleged rampant anarchy by the forest officials and have accused the Forest Range Officer of demanding money from the truck drivers even after possessing legal papers to transport soil, sand and stone.

A group of drivers have lodged a written complaint against Range Officer Masharraf Hussain Choudhury along with forest guards Soleiman Ali Ojha, Manzil Haque, Ayub Khan, and forest officer Rezaul Haque in Dhubri.

According to the FIR, Range Officer Masharraf Hussain Choudhury, is filling his own pocket by illegally demanding money from drivers despite owners paying revenue in the name of transporting land, sand, and stones to the Assam government.
Range Officer Masharraf has been accused of harassing the truck drivers and threatening them.

“My vehicle was detained on April 4th, and no seizure copy was imposed. I even reached the forest depot in Balurchar, Dhubri where my vehicle was kept. The Range Officer demanded Rs. 50,000 for the release of my vehicle” said one complainant.

“I said whatever money they need, I will pay but I need an official fine recipient copy to which Choudhury denied and on doubt he seized my mobile phone on which I secretly recorded the whole incident”, added the complainant.

The complainant further stated, “On 7th April, one forest official called my driver through whatsapp calling and demanded rupees 15,000 per month and demanded rupees 5,000 each week in the name of forest maintenance”.

The forest range officer then threatened to put the drivers behind the bars if they fail to pay the amount as demanded by the officer, alleged the complainant.

Accordingly, the victim has now requested the district deputy commissioner and superintendent of police to register an FIR against the five forest officials, including Masharraf Hussain Choudhury, Range Officer Check Station Dhubri under appropriate sections of the law as per the investigation and take legal appropriate action.

 

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