In a shocking incident, forest officials came under a deadly assault by timber smugglers in the constituency of the state’s Forest Minister. The attack occurred after officials from Khowai and Tulashikhar Forest Departments intercepted a vehicle loaded with illegally felled timber on the Khowai-Kamalpur National Highway.
The smugglers, in a brazen daylight assault, surrounded a forest department vehicle and launched a violent attack using iron rods and thick bamboo sticks. Range Officer Ratnajit Chakma of the Tulashikhar Forest Division sustained serious injuries and was left bleeding.
Following closely behind on a motorcycle was another forest staffer, who was targeted with stones by the assailants. He collapsed on the road due to the impact. As another forest department vehicle approached the scene, the attackers fled.
The incident has caused widespread outrage and raised serious concerns about the safety of frontline forest personnel battling organized timber smuggling in sensitive regions. Authorities have launched an investigation.
