TURA: Forest Department personnel on Thursday seized a Mahindra pick-up truck that was being used to smuggle out timber from the reserve forests in East Garo Hills.
During the routine patrolling along the stretch of road passing through Dambu Reserve forest under Darugre (Rongjeng) range, a team led by forester Robert Ch Marak along with forest guards Mejol Singh, Kachil Momin and Charlistone Sangma spotted the vehicle coming from the opposite direction.
On seeing the forest personnel, the occupants jumped out of the running vehicle and fled into the forest. The vehicle with Assam registration came to a halt after dashing against a tree by the roadside.
On inspection they found that the vehicle had been loaded with eight massive square beams of timber which were covered with piles of bananas on top.
The vehicle and its consignment were 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.
A few weeks ago, two cars filled with sawn timber from the reserve forests were seized by forest personnel in East Garo Hills.
