Three timber smugglers arrested in Kokrajhar

: Kokrajhar, January 7, 2011

An international timber smuggling racket came to light when forest department of Ultapani caught red handed three timber smugglers including two Bhutan nationals identified as Gopal Rai (35), Sonjib Kumar Rai (18), both from Gelephu under Sarpang district and another Indian nationality Krishna Bahadur Chetri (45), of Tukribasti in Chirang district (Assam) at Dholpani block just near the no man’s land, along the India-Bhutan border under Haltugaon division in Kokrajhar district.  What makes the story more interesting is the alleged involvement of, Sashatra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel manning the Indo-Bhutan border and posted at Tukribasti, in the racket as reveled by the arrested persons.  The arrested persons said that they have handed 35 cefti timbers to SSB camp based Tukribasti area only three days back.  Gopal said that they have been inside the forest areas since the last seven days and already felled three trees and were cutting timbers out of the felled trees. One Germany made power-saw machine used for cutting trees and timbers were recovered from them. The duo is stated to be working for one Prasant Tamang of Gelephu.