Illegal Timber Seizure: Sub-Divisional Forest Officer Intercepts Vehicle Carrying Timber Worth ₹20 Lakh, Driver Absconds
Tripura 28 March, 2025: Illegal timber smuggling continues unabated in Tripura’s North District, with frequent forest department raids leading to the seizure of vehicles transporting timber. Most of these illegal activities occur in the Kadamtala police station area, with timber smuggled to Assam under the cover of darkness.
On Thursday night, forest officials intercepted a Tata DI vehicle (AS11EC/0453) loaded with illegal timber, worth approximately ₹20 lakh, in Anand Bazar under Dharmanagar subdivision. Acting on a tip-off, Sub-Divisional Forest Officer (SDFO) Ashok Kumar and Ranger Supriya Debnath launched a late-night operation and spotted the vehicle on the Anand Bazar-Tilthai road. When the driver realized he was being chased, he abandoned the vehicle and fled.
The officials recovered 100 cubic feet of illegal timber (locally known as ‘Chow Timber’) from the vehicle. A case under the Forest Act has been registered, and an investigation has been initiated.
During the operation, a group of nearly 20 people on motorbikes followed the forest officials, likely to intimidate them. However, they refrained from confronting the team directly, hinting at the involvement of an organized smuggling network backed by influential forces.
The seized vehicle and timber have been taken to the SDFO office for further action.
