Timber mafia clashes with forest officials

SURAT: Forest department officials fired one round in air in forest area of Malangdev range on the border of Dang and Tapi districts on Saturday when timber mafia attacked their team.
Forest officials said a special drive to tighten the noose around timber mafia in south Gujarat forest area has been launched following a clash between the mafia and a forest department team around 15 days ago in Toran range of Tapi district.In that incident, the forest officials fired one round in the air to tackle a gang of over 25 persons.
Sources said that on Saturday, a gang of 27 persons was spotted by the forest team during a combing operation in Malangdev range. A team of seven forest department personnel asked them to surrender but they allegedly attacked them. This led the department officials to fire in self-defence. Sources said that one of the attackers has been detained while the others managed to escape.
"Forest department has increased combing and its presence in deep forest area. Our efforts are helping stop the activity of timber mafia," said chief conservator of forest (Surat division) S K Chaturvedi.
The forest department team seized 2.5 cubic metre of teak wood from the gang that was chopped from the forest.
Forest department has set up two posts in the forests of Valpada and Vyara range to increase their presence. "Each chowki will have a staff of 15 persons and they will patrol the area," said Chaturvedi.
Forest officials informed that the timber mafia carries out their activity during night hours and steal only teak for high returns.