Troops of Assam Rifles in Manipur foiled the smuggling of a huge amount of illegal timbers at Changa Junction in Ukhrul district.

“On receipt of credible input from a reliable source regarding the illegal move of timber from Singha village in Ukhrul to Imphal, a Mobile Vehicle Check Post was established at Changa junction at around 9 pm on September 30, 2020,” said PRO, Assam Rifles (South) in a release issued on Thursday night.

“At approximately 9.30 pm, three Tata trucks bearing the registration numbers MN-07-C-4145, MN-07-C-4020 and MN-04-C-2494 were intercepted,” the PRO said.

On carrying out a thorough check of the documents and vehicle, the trucks were found carrying a total of 46 pinewood logs and 450 cubic feet of pinewood planks without a valid permit for the same, the release said.

The trucks were being driven by Arunjit and Nanao, residents of Imphal and James, a resident of Tamenglong.

Shangshak police station was contacted by the Assam Rifles and the smuggled timbers along with the vehicles, drivers and co-drivers were handed over to the police for further action at 12 pm on October 1, 2020, it added.

The total value of the recovered timber is approximately Rs 10 lakh.

Sobhapati Samom is Northeast Now Correspondent in Imphal. He can be reached at: [email protected]