Guwahati: A firing incident was reported from the Dihing Patkai National Park located in the Dibrugarh and Tinsukia districts of Assam on Tuesday.
According to reports, the firing broke out last night inside the national park near the Basav stream between forest officials and a group of timber smugglers.
Officials stated that the smugglers were apprehended while operating heavy machinery to cut down trees, and that both parties exchanged gunfire.
However, they claimed that the timber smugglers were able to depart in the dead of night.
The forest department has also initiated a search operation to find the culprits, according to officials.
Meanwhile, officials have taken the gang’s left-behind machinery including a chainsaw and other tools of the trade into custody.
It needs to be noted that this is the second incident of firing this year inside the Dehing Patkai national park.