Tura, Aug 24: Timber thieves in Garo Hills have escaped with a truck load of illegally cut trees despite an attempt to confiscate the consignment by vigilant villagers in Garobadha area of West Garo Hills on August 23rd night.
The mahindra bolero mini truck bearing an Assam registration number was packed with 10 large logs of freshly cut trees and spotted by alert villagers in Megonggre village under Garobadha of West Garo Hills at around 9:45 pm Wednesday.
The villagers had stopped the vehicle and asked for papers and documents for evidence that the timber was genuine, but the driver who was unable to give any suddenly drove away with the consignment.
Villagers tried to give chase in motorcycles but were outrun by the vehicle which headed straight for the Assam border through the Garobadha-Rajabala road.
Student and social organizations are angry that forest authorities are not doing enough to check the smuggling of precious forest produce from Garo Hills to Assam and question the alertness and duty of those incharge of forest check gates.
This is the second incidence of illegal timber intercepted by student groups and villagers in the last couple of days.
A few days ago, another timber laden vehicle with illegal consignment was seized in Mahendraganj area of South West Garo Hills district.
Also read: Warning! Two men try to abduct child from school in Shillong
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