The Forest Department has launched a crusade against the illegal timber smuggling rampant at Rongjuli in Assam Goalpara district.
A Forest Department team led by Ronghuli divisional forest officer Balen Kumar Das seized a huge quantity of smuggled timber and a pick-up van meant for timber smuggling during an operation on Friday evening.
Vicious circles involved in the racket were preparing to cut down quite a few ‘saal’ trees from the Ghagra reserve of Rongjuli forest area.
Acting on a tip-off, officials of the forest department conducted a surprise raid in the region and seized the timber along with the vehicle.
However, the miscreants managed to flee from the spot.