TURA: A staff of the forest department was attacked and injured by gun totting timber smugglers on Tuesday evening in retaliation for a recent anti-smuggling operation in the remote and lush green reserve forests of Adokgre, bordering Assam, where several smugglers were apprehended. Two motorcycle-borne men carrying country-made guns came up to a tea stall in Adokgre reserve forest of North Garo Hills, and fired a shot at forest department employee, Kreditson Marak.
The victim was a muster roll employee of the forest department and had entered the tea stall to take some water when he was attacked. He was rushed to Down Town Hospital in Guwahati where he is reported to be out of danger.
The attack is believed to be in retaliation for a recent anti-smuggling drive undertaken by the forest department staff with active support from North Garo Hills police.
Rampant felling of trees inside Adokgre reserve forest had alarmed the forest staff who being unarmed sought the help of the district police to contain the destruction