Shillong, Oct 22: In a major crackdown on illegal timber operations, the Forest Department seized a large quantity of Sal logs and dismantled an illegal sawmill near Bhaitbari in West Garo Hills on Wednesday.
Acting on specific intelligence, a team led by Range Officer, Hollaidanga Range, under the guidance of DFO, West & South-West Garo Hills Territorial Division, Tura, conducted simultaneous raids at Belbari and Gasbari Sorokpara.
At Belbari, operators had dismantled and removed the machinery before the team arrived, but officials recovered 40 Sal logs stocked at the site. The timber was shifted to safe custody in two trips using a departmental truck.
At Gasbari Sorokpara, the team caught an operational illegal sawmill red-handed and dismantled the entire setup on the spot, including heavy motor engine, band saw and associated machinery.
All seized materials have been deposited at Hollaidanga Range Headquarters.
DFO Rupanker K. Marak said strict monitoring and anti-smuggling drives will continue aggressively to break illegal timber networks in West Garo Hills.
