Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 09 December 2024
In a significant crackdown on illegal deforestation, Police Station (PS) Mayabunder successfully seized 13 pieces of hand-sawn timber, identified as Andaman Paduak, in a raid conducted within its jurisdiction.
Acting on credible information, Inspector S Kannan, SHO of PS Mayabunder, swiftly formed a team comprising Sub-Inspector Dinesh Meena, Police Sub-Inspector Dinesh Jaiswal, Vikas Yadav, Hari Krishna, and Police Constable Prem Prakash Beck. They moved quickly to the location where the timber was suspected to be stored.
The team raided the premises of a woman, identified as Ms. Sobha Halder, wife of Santosh Halder, residing in Tugapur No. 02, Mayabunder. The raid resulted in the successful seizure of the 13 hand-sawn timber logs, which are classified as Andaman Paduak, a protected forest product.
This operation marks a critical step in curbing illegal deforestation, a practice that threatens both the region’s biodiversity and ongoing environmental conservation efforts.
Following the raid, the seized timber and the detained suspect were handed over to Forest Department officials for further investigation and necessary action.
The operation was carried out under the careful supervision of SDPO Diglipur, Mr. Ankesh Yadav, DANIPS, and overall supervision of Ms. Geetanjali Khandelwal IPS, Superintendent of Police, North & Middle Andaman District.
In a statement, authorities encouraged the public to report any credible information related to crime or illegal activities. Information can be shared with the nearest police station or through emergency helplines at 100, 112, or 03192-273344. Confidentiality will be maintained, and informers will be rewarded.
This ongoing effort underscores the dedication of local authorities to protect the region’s natural resources and safeguard its environment.