In another incident of highhandedness of illegal timber smugglers, the forest officials and workers of Rongjuli Forest Reserve of Goalpara district in Assam have been attacked by miscreants involved in timber smuggling on Saturday.
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The miscreants also managed to escape taking away with them two cartloads of timber.
The miscreants also threatened to torch down the forest camp of the department.
The incident took place when a team of Forest officials led by officer in-charge of the forest camp, Khagendra Kalita accosted a group of miscreants with two cartloads of timber.
The team of Forest officials rounded up the miscreants and also took the two carts loaded with timber in its possession.
At that time, the nabbed timber smugglers raised a hue and cry and immediately a group of around 20 to 25 miscreants arrived at the scene and started attacking the team of Forest officials with machetes and batons.
The out-numbered team of Forest officials were soon over powered and the miscreants made good their escape along with the two cartloads of timber.
The official Kalita and three other forest workers namely Lalmohan Boro, Anup Kumar Das and Iren Rabha sustained injuries.
The miscreants while fleeing from the scene of crime also threatened the Forest officials of killing them and burning down the forest camp.
Later, the injured Forest workers were admitted to Simolitola health centre for treatment.
Meanwhile, an FIR has also been lodged at the Simolitola police station in the region regarding the incident.
It may be recalled that in April last year, miscreants attacked a team of forest officials of the same reserve forest seriously injuring at least ten of the forest workers.