AR foils timber smuggling bid
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, February 09 2018: In what could be termed as a major blow to the illegal timber smuggling business, troops of 26 Assam Rifles of 9 Sector Assam Rifles under IGAR (South) deployed in Thoubal caught a huge quantity of timber being illegally transported across Thoubal district.

According to a press release from PRO IGAR (S), based on a specific input of a massive illegal timber transportation, Assam Rifles personnel acted swiftly and halted a group of 12 trucks moving along Thoubal-Hongbi road.

On inquiry, it was found that the timber was being transported without an official permit from the Forest Department.

The information was shared with SP, Thoubal police and DFO, Thoubal for taking note of the illegal consignment.

The 12 trucks were carrying approximately 388 logs.

The entire consignment was handed over by the Assam Rifles officials to the officials of the Divisional Forest Department, Thoubal, it said.

As part of follow on operations, 40 logs of timber were further recovered from a dumping site near Malom.

The illegal timber was dumped at the site for further transportation.

The total value of the seized timber is worth approximately 40 lakhs, it said.

Further to the information recorded during spot interrogation during earlier recovery a team of 26AR further cordoned area near vill Saram.

Another dump of 218 logs of illegal Timber was dumped at the spot for further loading.

The approximate value of the seized timber is around Rs 20 lakh.

The same was also handed over to DFO, Thoubal.