In a significant breakthrough after a prolonged lull, forest officials at the Churaibari Forest Beat Office in Tripura have successfully intercepted a substantial quantity of illegally felled teak wood in two separate operations. The raids highlight the persistent issue of teak wood smuggling in the region, particularly within the Churaibari beat area, which is reportedly a major conduit for illicit timber compared to the Kadamtala beat.
Sources indicate that rampant illegal logging has severely depleted the forest cover in the Churaibari beat area, turning numerous hills into barren landscapes. While the Kadamtala beat has seen considerable success in seizing trucks laden with smuggled teak wood over the past two months, the Churaibari area is known to harbor several illegal cabinet-making units that allegedly serve as fronts for the clandestine teak wood trade.
Acting on a tip-off, a team from the Churaibari Forest Beat, led by Beat In-charge Ashutosh Malakar, conducted raids at two different locations on Friday morning. The operations resulted in the recovery of approximately 400 feet of processed teak wood, estimated to be worth around five lakh rupees.
The forest officials recovered the illegal teak wood from near the residences of Debu Deb in Ward No. 1 of Churaibari Gram Panchayat and Hannan Mia in Ward No. 5 of East Fulbari Gram Panchayat. Additionally, a “tuk-tuk” (a small three-wheeled vehicle) and some other timber were also seized during the operations. However, no arrests were made at the scene.
The Forest Department has initiated a thorough investigation into the entire incident to identify and apprehend those involved in the illegal teak wood smuggling racket. Meanwhile, Beat In-charge Ashutosh Malakar has affirmed that such drives against illegal logging and smuggling activities will continue in the days to come, signaling a renewed commitment to protecting Tripura’s valuable forest resources.
