Acting on inputs of a sawmill operating illegally in the village of Bholarbitha in Chibinang, West Garo Hills, a team comprising employees of the Forest Department of the Garo Hills Autonomous District Council (GHADC) and police personnel raided a mill, leading to the recovery of a huge amount of illegal timber as well as machines used for sawing.
According to reports, the illegal mill belongs to one Bokkul Islam, a resident of the village, and had been running for a significant amount of time. The raid was conducted today morning at around 11am.
It was led by the GHADC Phulbari ranger, B Hajong, with forest officials seizing the main sawing machine that was later carted to the office.
Meanwhile, one of the forest officials on the condition of anonymity alleged that there are more mills near the same place but this was the only one they found.
“We have been receiving reports that on average at least 15-20 such trucks carrying illegal timber are moving through Chibinang after dark every day. We will be acting on more such illegal mills in the coming days,” said one of the officials who was part of the raid.
Chibinang has been in the limelight over the past few years over allegations of over a dozen illegal sawmills operating in the area, most of which border Assam.
