Timber smuggler shot dead in Assam’s East Karbi Anglong

 EAST KARBI ANGLONG: A suspected timber smuggler was shot dead by a team of forest department personnel under Silonijan Range in East Karbi Anglong, Assam on Thursday.

 

According to report, the forest team was forced to retaliate after the group of smugglers involved in the felling of endangered trees opened fire on them.

 

The team of forest officials confronted the gang of timber smugglers inside the Garampani Wildlife Sanctuary.

 

They have also asked them to surrender, instead of doing that the smugglers opened fire on the forest officials team.

 

The gunfight lasted for few minutes and the gang fled under the cover of darkness.

 

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The forest team later recovered the bullet-riddled body while searching the area.

 

The team also seized a 7.65mm pistol with two live ammunition, a muzzle-loaded gun, a chainsaw and a gallon of petrol, and one empty cartridge from the spot.

 

Illegal felling and smuggling of precious wood continues in Golaghat district's Garampani Wildlife Sanctuary and adjoining Nambor Reserve Forest.

 

It is to be noted that forest officials who patrol the forest unarmed are often challenged by timber smugglers who carry firearms.

 

Recently inside the Nambor Reserve Forest, a forest guard identified as Mohibur Hussain was attacked with sharp axes by the timber mafia after he confronted the gang of timber smugglers cutting down valuable trees inside the protected forest.