Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 07 May 2025
In a significant crackdown on illegal timber operations, forest officials of the Garacharma Range seized a large quantity of illegally possessed sawn timber and machinery during a routine patrol in the Bimblitan beat area on Saturday evening.
The operation, led by Forester Shyam Sunder Rao (Beat Officer, Bimblitan), was conducted with the active support of team members P. Papa Rao, Randhir Soreng, Loganathan (Mazdoors), and Forest Guards Jagdeep Lall and Nabin Sarkar. The team uncovered a clandestinely operated furniture unit running inside an old non-residential house, where timber was being processed without any legal authorisation.
Upon questioning, the individual operating the unit failed to produce any valid documents for the possession or processing of timber. A thorough search of the premises led to the seizure of approximately 0.693 cubic meters of sawn Padauk timber, 0.786 cubic meters of Taung Pienne timber, five fashioned timber items, and various machines and tools used in the illegal activity.
The accused was arrested on the spot under relevant sections of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands Forest Produce Transit Rule, 1966, read with the Indian Forest Act, 1972. He was later released on a bail bond by the Range Officer of Garacharma Range. Further investigation is underway to trace the source of the seized timber.
Forest officials have appealed to the public to report any suspicious activities related to forest or wildlife offences through the helpline number 03192-255228. The identity of informants will be kept strictly confidential.