Guwahati: A dramatic high-speed chase through the serpentine roads of West Kamrup culminated in a significant seizure of illegally transported teak wood, valued at an estimated Rs 2 lakh. The action, undertaken by the West Kamrup Forest Division, underscores the department’s unwavering resolve to combat rampant timber smuggling in the region.
Acting on a tip-off, a team led by Bamunigaon Range Officer Aminul Islam pursued a suspicious vehicle, a Bolero bearing registration AS 01 LC 9523, from Shantipur. The chase, resembling a scene straight out of a movie, saw the forest officials relentlessly tailing the vehicle as it weaved through traffic and narrow lanes. The driver, in a desperate attempt to evade capture, eventually lost control and abandoned the vehicle near a roadside gorge in Batakuchi village, managing to escape into the dense foliage.
Upon inspection, officials were astounded to find the vehicle packed to the brim with cut pieces of teak, believed to have been illicitly sourced from the surrounding forested areas. Range Officer Islam, speaking to media persons, confirmed the seizure and stated that the department is intensifying its surveillance. He reiterated that such illegal activities pose a serious threat to the state’s precious forest wealth and warned that the Forest Department would leave no stone unturned to bring the culprits to justice. The operation is being hailed as a major victory in the ongoing battle against deforestation and a stern warning to those involved in the timber mafia.
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