By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The FKJGP Western Zone, Ri-Bhoi has denied allegations of their involvement in timber smuggling from the Nongkhyllem Forest Sanctuary in Ri-Bhoi district.
In a clarification issued here on Thursday, president of the zone, C Doloi denied that the timber seized earlier from his truck belonged to him even as he clarified that the truck was hired by another person to carry the timber. “The timber seized from my truck are not mine but belong to someone else,” Doloi said adding that the truck load of timber were cut down from a privately owned forest at Nongkynrih which was around 25 km from the Sanctuary.
“The timbers were not felled from the Nongkhyllem Forest Sanctuary as reported,” he said.
He also alleged that on February 24 when villagers had gone to retrieve his trucks they were shot at by the forests guards.
Doloi also urged the Forest Beat Office at Lai-Lad to compensate for the damages caused to his truck.