Reported by Tejesh Tripathy
Bongaigaon: Four youths planted saplings at Chipansila in Bongaigaon district on Tuesday as a punishment imposed by the forest department for cutting trees in a reserve forest near their locality.
Sankar Ray, Forest Range Officer of Abhayapuri in Bongaigaon district, picked up Jiban Ray from Chipansila market four days ago on suspicion of involvement in the cutting of trees in the Kakoijana Reserve Forest.
According to Jiban’s statement, Forest Range Officer Ray detained four youths — Rajib Ray, Kabindra Singha, Manas Ray and Madhab Ray, from the Chipansila locality for interrogation in connection with the case. They confessed to cutting two mature teak (segun) trees from the reserve forest, while Jiban allegedly transported the logs in his truck.
Meanwhile, after the forest department completed the legal formalities to book them, a section of residents of Chipansila and family members of the accused appealed to the department not to impose harsh punishment.
Considering the public appeal, Forest Range Officer Ray opted for a reformative approach. After consulting local residents and obtaining their consent, the accused youths were directed to plant at least 5,000 saplings in the reserve forest area near the village as punishment for the offence.
Residents of Chipansila also joined the plantation drive. Along with the accused youths, they planted a total of 1,500 saplings on Tuesday.
“We will achieve our target by planting 5,000 saplings on a 26-bigha plot of the reserve forest, and these accused youths will take care of these plants till they attain maturity,” Forest Range Officer Ray said.