TURA: State forest department personnel have intercepted a Mahindra pik up truck that was being used to smuggle out timber from the reserve forests in East Garo Hills on Thursday morning.
During routine patrolling along the stretch of road passing through Dambu Reserve forest under Darugre (Rongjeng) range, a team of forest personnel led by Forester Robert Ch Marak along with forest guard Mejol Singh, Kachil Momin and Charlistone Sangma spotted a Mahindra Bolero pik up truck coming from the opposite direction.
On seeing the forest personnel from a distance the occupants jumped out of the running vehicle and fled into the forests. The vehicle, bearing an Assam number, came to a halt after dashing against a tree by the roadside.
On inspection they found the vehicle had been loaded with eight massive square beams of teak timber which had been covered on top with piles of bananas to avoid detection.
The vehicle and its consignment has been seized and taken to the forest camp.
Rampant felling of trees inside the reserve forests of Garo Hills continues unabated despite efforts from forest personnel to contain the menace. Almost all major cases of illegal felling of trees and smuggling of the same into neighbouring Assam is taking place in the East Garo Hills region which has the last remaining forest cover in the Garo Hills.
Some weeks ago, two cars filled with sawn timber from the reserve forests were seixed by forest personnel in East Garo Hills.
