TURA: Forest employees from the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), with the help of villagers from Chiading, intercepted three trucks laden with timber from the Rongrenggre Forest Reserve early on Friday morning.
Patrol teams from GHADC and villagers on night vigil intercepted two trucks and a mini truck carrying freshly sawn timber that was on its way to Assam.
The vehicles were intercepted at Chiading on the main highway connecting Williamnagar with Jengjal in West Garo Hills.
Questions have been raised on the alertness of the state forest department given that the smugglers were able to cross two forest gates on the highway before they were intercepted by GHADC staff and villagers at 1 am.
The occupants of all three vehicles managed to escape from the spot.
