TURA: A group of ‘timber smugglers’ escaped when forest officials from Tura – Williamnagar range fired back after the timber mafia shot at them.
The incident took place between Rombagre and Oragitok in West Garo Hills at about 2 am on Tuesday when the officials stopped the truck and tried to nab the persons transporting the timber.
“We came across a truck loaded with timber and immediately came under fire from the smugglers. We returned fire but they managed to escape leaving behind the truck with the timber,” Forest Ranger, Chongkim B Sangma said. Meanwhile, it has been learnt that the truck, bearing number AS-18 C-0049 belongs to one Nizamudin of Goalpara in Assam. The truck, along with logs of around 20 to 25 fully grown trees has been seized and a case registered under Meghalaya Forest Regulation Act, 1973.
The truckload of timber was being smuggled from the reserves of East Garo Hills to Goalpara District in neighbouring Assam according to Forest officials.
