TURA, Dec 5: A four-member team of forest guards, which was out on a patrol, narrowly escaped from a furious mob on Friday when the former was travelling with illegal timbers, which the members had confiscated in Phulbari plains of West Garo Hills.
A complaint was also filed with Phulbari police on Saturday by the forest team from the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC), detailing attempt on their lives.
The team from Phulbari forest range of GHADC and its beat office from Balachanda had undertaken a search operation after reports surfaced about smuggling of timber from the hills through into Assam.
“There was information that smuggling of forest produce was taking place through a place called Katmil, and it was when we launched a search operation. It was around 8 pm that we spotted a Bolero pick-up mini truck laden with 21 logs of timber at Peshakandi, near New Bhaitbari. There were no markings on the timber nor were they able to provide any documents including a transit pass. So, we confiscated the timber and kept it at our Phulbari range office. It was during our return journey, the team was targeted,” said Ranger Bishnudev Hajong, while narrating the incident.
The team was heading back to Balachanda through the Phulbari-Rajabala Road at 1 am when they suddenly spotted a roadblock at Sidakhandi village made out of boulders, stones and logs with a group of people waiting.
“They quickly pointed out and began shouting that this is the vehicle that seized the timber. As they began to approach the vehicle, quick reaction from our forest guard, Bestone Marak, who was behind the wheel, saved all of us. Instead of stopping, he drove through the blockade. We don’t know what would have happened if our team had not gotten away,” a forest official said.
Reports of smuggling taking place through the plains frequently keep coming to the light, with forest teams being deployed to keep an eye on such illegal activities.
Unfortunately, the guards are neither armed nor are provided a vehicle. The Friday operation to avert the smuggling bid was also conducted with hired vehicles by the forest teams. To make matters worse, the locals seldom cooperate with the authorities, preferring most of the time to take sides with the lawbreakers.
Just last month, a commotion had taken place when forest patrol teams had dismantled an illegal saw mill and seized its machines in Bholarbita area of Chibinang.
However, the move backfired on the teams with infuriated villagers making bids to intimidate the raiding party. It was thanks to the presence of an armed team of Meghalaya Police they could manage to return unharmed.