Assam: Three timber thieves nabbed at Kakopathar forest in Tinsukia

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GUWAHATI, AUG 18: Three timber thieves were nabbed by the forest department in Tinsukia district on Thursday for illegally chopping Hollong tree inside the Doomdooma reserve forest in upper Assam Tinsukia district.

The accused were identifed as Arun Tasa, Markus Munda and Biru Bhukta of Rangpur village of Tinsukia’s Kakopathar area.

Kakopathar forest division ranger Praneswar Das said that the three accused had chopped down two giant Hollong trees inside the Doomdooma reserve forest. They were caught red handed by a forest team who were patrolling inside the forest in the early morning hours.

“Our forest team while patrolling at around 5.20am caught three timber thieves redhanded who were chopping down Hollong trees inside the reserve  forest. They had already felled two giant Hollong trees. During interrogation they admitted that they use to cut the felled logs into small firewoods and then sell them to the country breweries in the area. They use to earn around Rs 250 to Rs 300 per bundle of firewoods by selling them to the breweries. We have seized two bicycles, axes, saws and machetes from them,” the ranger said.

He added, “We have already sought the help of the police to destroy the illicit country liquor breweries in the area.”

Devojit Moran, an environmentalist said, “Everyday timber smugglers are engaging their trusted henchmen for cutting valuable trees inside the reserve forest of Assam. Its a big nexus running from a long time and many forest officials are involved with them,”.

“Regular patrolling should be done inside the forest to curb wildlife crime. But it seem that the forest official don’t go deep inside the forest and as a result the timber thieves get chance to chop trees using machines,” he added.

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