BY TC News Desk
Agartala, September 27, 2023: In a significant crackdown on forest bandits, the Bishalgarh Forest Department personnel have recovered two illegal wood mills and two generators based on a tip-off. The Sepahijala Wildlife Sanctuary, a prominent tourist destination in Tripura, has been a target for illegal logging, causing widespread destruction of valuable trees.
The sanctuary draws tourists from across India but has been plagued by indiscriminate tree felling by forest bandits. Exploiting the situation, these criminals have engaged in smuggling operations, illegally cutting down trees and selling the logs.
On Tuesday, in separate raids conducted at 2 pm in Gokulnagar and around 6 am on Wednesday in the NC Nagar area, Bishalgarh Forest Department personnel acted on confidential information to recover the contraband items. It has been reported that forest bandits were actively involved in smuggling operations across different areas.
Upon receiving the tip-off, forest personnel from the Charilam range and Bishalgarh range of Sepahijala swiftly launched operations in Gokulnagar and NC Nagar areas. In response to the forest personnel’s presence, the bandits abandoned their illegal wood mills and generators before fleeing the scene.
Speaking on the matter, Sub-Divisional Forest Officer (SDFO) Pallab Chakraborty declared that patrols would be intensified in the coming days to curb such illegal activities. Pallab Chakraborty, a forest department official, affirmed that the crackdown on forest bandits would continue as part of ongoing efforts to protect the region’s valuable natural resources.
