Assam forest officials dismantle illegal movable band sawmill in Dhubri crackdown

Forest officials in Assam's Dhubri successfully dismantled a movable band saw mill operating covertly in Boalkamri Part II, under the Nayarhat Police Out Post, marking a significant step against illegal timber operations.
 

Acting on a tip-off, the Dhubri Forest Division, under the direct guidance of newly appointed Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Golap Kumar Bania, launched the operation. A team led by Sahabaz Sultan, In-Charge of the Sapatgram Forest Depot, carried out the raid.

The illegal sawmill, cleverly mounted on a hand-cart for easy mobility, was found processing round logs without any valid permits. The unit was immediately dismantled and seized. Sources revealed that the sawmill had been operating clandestinely for a considerable time, posing a serious threat to forest conservation efforts in the region.

This dismantling is a crucial blow to the supply chain of illegally sourced timber and represents the first major enforcement action under DFO Bania’s leadership, who has emphasized a zero-tolerance policy toward illegal forest activities.

Investigations are ongoing, and officials expect more targeted operations in the coming days as part of a broader crackdown on timber smuggling and related illegal practices.