Officials of PTR have exposed timber smuggling being practised by cycles mostly at night hours. The cyclist smuggler has no hesitation to leave behind his cycle and timber in the event of being challenged or chased by forest officials.
DFO Buffer of Tiger Reserve Palamu Mahalinga told The Pioneer on Tuesday that around 11 pm he was coming from Hehegara when he saw timbers being smuggled on three cycles. “I along with my personnel challenged these cyclist smugglers to stop but they ran away leaving behind the timber and their cycles. The logs were of Sal and Beej trees.”
Since there is no registration of cycle it is difficult to catch the owner or rider of the cycle as on seizure by forest officials. Cycles are disowned and no one comes to stake any claim for it fearing more legal action under forest act etc.
Sources said buffer office and its range offices have a good number of cycles so seized. These cycles are to be auctioned said sources.
Field Director of PTR MP Singh however goes even ahead. Talking to The Pioneer Singh had said, “These cyclists are smugglers who work and carry timber as agents of someone else who hire them on peanuts. But the practice destroys the habitat of the reserve for patience.”