Assam: Allegations of corruption rock Sribhumi forest department, officials under scanner after CCTV footage surface

The Sribhumi District Forest Department has come under intense public scrutiny following serious allegations of corruption, bribery, and collusion with forest mafias. Fresh video and CCTV footage have surfaced, exposing alleged malpractice within the department, raising doubts about its transparency and accountability.

According to reports, the department has allegedly become a hotbed of illegal activities, where forest mafias are said to operate freely while certain officials are accused of accepting regular bribes. CCTV footage purportedly shows timber seized by the forest department being loaded into vehicles and transported elsewhere.

Local reports indicate that illegal red soil excavation is thriving in several parts of the North Karimganj constituency of Sribhumi, allegedly under the indirect support of certain forest officials. The illicit soil-cutting operations reportedly occur late at night, with the forest department turning a blind eye.

Observers have compared the department’s inaction to being “asleep like Kumbhakarna,” while environmental violations continue unabated.

The controversy deepened after a video clip went viral, showing a conversation between Patharkandi Forest Ranger Rupak Roy and a soil trader, Majir Uddin. In the clip, the trader alleges that the ranger demanded Rs 5,000 per month per truck for allowing soil transportation. Later, Roy allegedly increased the rate to Rs 5,000 per week.

Reports further claim that during a late-night operation around 3 a.m., Ranger Roy intercepted a truck loaded with red soil belonging to the trader. When Majir Uddin offered Rs 50,000 as a bribe, he reportedly began recording the exchange on his mobile phone. On realizing this, Ranger Roy turned on a torchlight to obscure his face from the camera. The trader, however, continued recording and confronting him, following which the ranger allegedly fled the scene, leaving the undocumented truck behind.

Adding to the controversy, CCTV footage from the range office has emerged showing timber previously seized by forest officials being loaded onto carts and DI trucks, apparently for transportation to undisclosed locations. The footage has strengthened suspicions of internal collusion within the department.

The allegations have raised a storm over whether the District Forest Officer (DFO) still maintains control over his department or if certain officers are operating independently for personal gain. The revelations have sparked public outrage, with many demanding an independent inquiry into the matter.

The accusing trader, Majir Uddin, has presented detailed claims and evidence supporting his allegations, urging authorities to act swiftly.