Various NGOs from the Dainadubi region of North Garo Hills have pushed for greater action against the rising cases of timber smuggling taking place through the village.
The pressure groups and civil society organisations lashed out at the lack of control over smuggling, which has led to almost the entire area being denuded.
Two days ago, after a car with smuggled timber was caught by forest personnel, alleged timber smugglers kidnapped one member of the AAYF before assaulting him near Damra in Assam. He was later taken to the Dainadubi Primary Health Centre where he was treated for multiple injuries.
The NGO member was allegedly assaulted for informing on the illegal smuggling activities, which led to the apprehension of the car with illegal timber.
Besides filing a FIR and a complaint with police authorities, the NGOs have decided to make their voices louder and decided to approach the Chief Minister and senior forest and police officials to seek a complete stop to such activities.
“The Depa Garat and Dankong areas have been extremely badly affected by the continuing destruction of forests by unscrupulous criminals from both the states of Assam and Meghalaya. If this continues, we will not have much to call forests,” said PJAC general secretary, Sutindro Marak.
“The audacity of the smuggling gang to enter our office, kidnap one of our members and then assault him shows desperation. It also shows the lack of respect for law, which is utterly condemnable. We have faith in the system and are sure that those behind the attack will be acted on accordingly,” said AAYF president, Watson Marak.
Meanwhile, some allegations made by an online forum against the NGOs have not gone down too well among them. A local video channel on YouTube had alleged that police believed that the NGO member was beaten up by villagers from Depa Garat (the victim and the assaulters were from the same village) as the pressure group was collecting money through an illegal gate.
“These allegations are wild and baseless. Why would we be collecting money from vehicles in the first place and if the villagers were angry with the victim why would they need to take him to Assam to beat him up? He was forced into a car with the smugglers who assaulted him. These allegations only point to a nexus and do not bode well for the future,” added Watson.
