Multani timber smugglers attacked a forest patrol party in the small hours of Wednesday when the latter went to Joglapur in Ichoda mandal following a tip off on timber being smuggled out. An animal tracker, Bapu Rao, who was part of the eight-member patrol received head injuries and a beat officer received minor injuries.
According to Forest Divisional Officer, Kawal Tiger Reserve, Nirmal, S. Ramkishan, an attempt to murder case has been filed by Ichoda police. The culprits however, could not be identified.
Forest Range Officer (KTR), Sirchelma, Wahab Ahmed, said the tip off appeared to be false and was aimed at ambushing the patrol. The vehicle carrying the forester team came under attack from an agriculture field and the attackers escaped under cover of darkness.
The Ichoda and Sirchelma Range forest officials had seized a lot of timber from the smugglers in the area since the last one month. The attack was apparently to deter the foresters from stopping the smugglers.