In a major breakthrough, Special Task Force (STF) Uttarakhand busted an inter-state racket of smugglers of forest produce and arrested two smugglers from Mansadevi crossing, Chaiki Shyampur police post, Rishikesh on Tuesday. The police have recovered 117 pieces of rare and valuable wood called ‘Kajal’ and some tools, meant for felling trees, from their possession. The accused have been identified as Chhitup lama and Chewang Bahadur Tamang, both Nepal nationals, living in Kermi village under Simeekot police station, said STF Uttarakhand SSP P Renuka Devi on Tuesday. Regarding this, a case under sections 26/41 of Forest Act has been registered in Chaiki Shyampur police station, she added.
Smuggling of forest produce from several areas across Uttarakhand has been going on for years with the perpetrators managing to elude police. “Tuesday’s arrest of two such smugglers would definitely go a long way in restraining the trend,” says an observer.
She further said that STF police had been receiving tip- offs about smuggling of illegal forest produce in the State for some time. Police had acted on Tuesday after getting specific information regarding two persons, carrying pieces of valuable wood ‘Kajal’, roaming around Rishikesh area, she added.
A team consisting of STF sub-inspector Santosh Shah, head constbale Satendra Butola, constables Ashish Sharma and Ved Prakash Bhatt was formed. As they began the search operation two suspects were found roaming around Mansadevi crossing area on Tuesday. On seeing police, they started fleeing. However, the police frisked them to find 117 pieces of rare and valuable wood ‘Kajal’ they were carrying.
In course of interrogation, the accused confessed to bringing rare and valuable forest produces from the higher reaches of the Himalayas to be supplied at industries based in Saharanpur (Uttar Pradesh)
The wood found in their possession is found in the higher reaches and reserved forest area at the altitude of around 6, 000 feet or more in the Himalayan region. This wood is also used for making medicines. Besides, the mendicants and monks use it for making glasses or pots. It is sold at exorbitant prices among people of Tibetan community living in India, China and Tibet. Every piece of such timber is sold for around Rs 15, 000 in the areas populated with the Tibetan community people, police said.
The accused further said that they had procured it from the higher hilly forest areas at Sagar village in Gopeshwar under Chamoli district and supplied it at factories based in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The accused admitted while being grilled that they had earlier brought such precious timber from several places like Tharali, Chamoli and Purola, Uttarkashi in the State.