Teak logs worth Rs. 50,000 seized in Karimganj

Forest officials and police seized 34 Teak logs from a vehicle at Gambhira under Ratabari constituency in Karimganj district on Monday.

Sources said a team of forest and Nivia police officials, based on specific information, set a trap around 7am this morning at Gambhira, around 112km from Silchar and intercepted a vehicle loaded with Teak logs. The logs were about to be taken through Cheragi area and later were to be smuggled by forest mafia, however, Cheragi forest ranger Ramiz Uddin and Nivia police had got the information. Eventually, the officials foiled the plan and got hold of the logs. The driver managed to flee the spot, sources said.

The logs and the vehicle (from which the logs were recovered) were first taken to Nivia police outpost and later handed over to the forest department. Those were around 40ft in length (each) and their market value will be around Rs. 50,000, a forest official said.

Complaints of felling of trees in Cheragi forest areas have surfaced from time to time for the past few years. Local residents have alleged that forest lands in the areas are being encroached and illegal brick-kilns and fisheries are being set up. Forest mafias are ravaging the forests, but there has hardly been any action in this regard, locals said and expressed their dissatisfaction over the role of the forest department.

Teak _(Tectona grandis)_ is a tropical hardwood tree species and is native to south and southeast Asia, mainly India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Bangladesh and Myanmar. It is used in the manufacture of outdoor furniture and boat decks. It is also used for cutting boards, indoor flooring, counter-tops and as veneer for indoor furnishings.