Guwahati: The issue of forest mafia activity in Assam’s Dima Hasao district has resurfaced following a serious incident at Chesko village, about 16 km from Umrangso, raising concerns about the safety of the region’s delicate ecology.
Officials reported that a Gypsy vehicle and a truck were set ablaze by unidentified individuals the day before yesterday.
The Forest Department and local police were informed only after the fire had occurred.
The truck was carrying timber suspected to have been illegally harvested from nearby forests. Both vehicles were completely destroyed.
An FIR has been filed at Umrangso Police Station in connection with the incident. Authorities noted that neither vehicle had registration plates, and no one has come forward to claim ownership.
The fact that the incident happened within a reserved forest area points to organised illegal activity.
Forest officials said the incident indicates that forest mafia operations are still active in Dima Hasao despite ongoing enforcement efforts.
The identities of those who set the vehicles on fire and the owners of the vehicles remain unknown.
An investigation is ongoing to identify the perpetrators and trace the source of the timber, as authorities work to combat illegal logging and protect the district’s forest resources.
Authorities have launched an investigation to track down those responsible and find out the source of the timber.
They are intensifying efforts to tackle illegal logging and protect the district’s forests.