Assam: Illegal sawmill, sand mining busted, 2 dumpers seized in Basugaon

Intensifying the strong search operation against the illegal sand mining and sawmill, forest staff of Basugaon range and police have busted an illegal sawmill & sand mining and seized two dumpers which smuggled sand minings along the Champawati River in Chirang district, Assam.

Forest staff from Basugaon Range and protection squad carried out a search operation on Saturday morning at Khagrabari area under Basugaon police station and were able to bust an illegal sawmill which was run by timber smugglers in the area. Forest department recovered several paraik timbers,non sal sawn timbers including 34 inches sawing blade and plat, two nos mill wheel, one piece of vertical stand,one generator and some objectionable materials from the spot.

Further, during the search operation, two numbers dumpers bearing registration no.AS26/7709 and AS01LC/4619 transporting minor minerals sand and stone from Champawati river Mahal during night time were detected by the Basugaon forest staff before sunrise on the day in Assam.

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 During a routine check, Basugaon forest staff signalled the dumpers near Ranchaidham but the dumpers did not stop. Then, forest staffs chased after the dumpers and tried to stop them. Forest department staff took the help of Kashikotra police check post but the dumpers forcefully cross the police check post with full speed. Then, overtake the dumpers on the NH31C near Kashikotra HS school. But surprisingly the dumpers attempted to run over our departmental vehicle to make an accident. But, later dumper drivers left the vehicle and escaped from the spot.

Continuing its search operation, forest staff also busted illegal mining at Kursakati along the Champawati River in a joint operation of Basugaon forest depot office, Assam and Gaurang range in the district.

The government value of illegal sawmill and dumper’s seized amount to be approximately 84 lakhs approximately.

Basugaon forest depot officer, Dr Kunjamahan Basumatary told that the forest department has intensified a strong search operation against the illegal sawmill and mining smuggling in the area and detected dumpers and busted illegal sawmills in Assam.

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