GUWAHATI: Timber mafia Mridul Bora was arrested on Thursday night following a coordinated operation by the forest department and local police.
The arrest took place in the Tarani Reserve Forest area of Pengree, Tinsukia district, marking a significant step in the state’s fight against illegal logging and timber smuggling.
The operation resulted in the seizure of a truck carrying a large load of illegal timber, including valuable Shimulu and Holong logs.
In addition, an excavator used in the illegal timber trade was confiscated.
Authorities say Bora was the main supplier of this illicit timber to various sawmills across the Tinsukia region.
According to sources, the illegal timber trade has thrived not only in Tinsukia but also in neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh.
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Bora is said to have run an organized syndicate, using a wide network of contacts to avoid detection and evade capture over the years.
The smuggling of timber has been a long-standing issue, particularly in the forests of Upper Assam.
Areas like Lakhipathar and the western range of the Margherita reserve forest have become notorious hotspots for such activities.
These regions, once rich in vegetation, have been severely impacted by the relentless illegal logging.
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In light of the growing problem, Assam’s authorities are intensifying efforts to dismantle the larger network responsible for the illegal timber trade.
The forest department is also ramping up patrols and monitoring to protect the state’s valuable forest reserves from further exploitation.
