Guwahati, 4th August: On Friday, reports emerged of a significant operation carried out by the forest department in Assam’s Chirang district, where a large consignment of illegally transported timber was intercepted, and two Bhutan nationals were caught.
The operation took place at Dadgiri, near the Indo-Bhutan international borders in Chirang district, in the evening on Thursday.
Forest department officials from the Runikhata range in Chirang received information from informants and swiftly reached the location, where they discovered a Bolero pick-up vehicle with a Bhutan number plate (BP 1D 1618) loaded with smuggled timber.
Two Bhutan nationals, identified as Bheem Bahadur Rai (30 years old) and Rajen Rai (28 years old), were detained along with the vehicle.
The seized vehicle, timber, and the detained individuals were brought to Kajalgaon Forest Division for further investigation.
Officials estimated the value of the seized timber to be worth several lakhs, and legal proceedings have been initiated in the matter.
During their interrogation, the apprehended individuals revealed that they were transporting the timber consignment on behalf of someone else and were paid Rs 10,000 for their role in the illegal transportation to Chirang in Assam.
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