Doomdooma: The Assam Jatiyatabadi Yuva Chhatra Parishad (AJYCP) on Friday staged a protest at Margherita in Upper Assam’s Tinsukia district, burning an effigy of the Digboi Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) and accusing the forest department of failing to curb alleged illegal timber smuggling, unauthorised tree felling and other illegal activities in the region.
Hundreds of members of the AJYCP’s Margherita regional committee, along with local residents, participated in the demonstration, demanding immediate action against those allegedly involved in the destruction of forest resources and illegal commercial activities.
“Today, we burnt the effigy of the Digboi DFO to protest against illegal timber transportation, the alleged use of fake transit passes (TPs), and other illegal activities. The authorities must stop these practices without further delay,” a protester said.
The organisation has also alleged that valuable trees are being illegally felled in reserved forest areas under the Digboi Forest Division, with timber allegedly transported through Margherita towards various sawmills in Arunachal Pradesh.
It further accused certain individuals of operating an organised timber-smuggling network, allegedly with the complicity of some forest officials.
The protesters also raised concerns over alleged irregularities in the transportation of timber using fake transit passes, claiming that illegal consignments were being moved openly despite existing government regulations.
“Illegal stone extraction, sand theft from the Burhidihing river and the operation of brick kilns in violation of government norms must also be stopped. The administration cannot remain a silent spectator,” another protester said.
The AJYCP also demanded action against alleged illegal stone quarrying and sand extraction, besides calling for measures to check suspected illegal infiltration in the Margherita region.
Issuing a three-day ultimatum to the authorities, the organisation demanded immediate intervention to stop illegal timber trade, forest destruction and unauthorised extraction of natural resources.
The Parishad warned that failure to act within the stipulated period would compel it to intensify its agitation.
The allegations are yet to be independently verified, and the response of the Digboi Forest Division was not immediately available.