OUR CORRESPONDENT
DIGBOI: A team of Lekhapani Forest Department headed by ranger Parismita Neog, in association with Ledu Police, on Sunday evening seized cash amounting to Rs 3,06,600 along with 35 files and several incriminating documents from the residence of an earlier-arrested coal trader Kaushal Singh of Ledu in Tinsukia District.
Three persons involved in the case were arrested by police on Saturday for violating the Assam Forest Act 1891 and mining illegally in the said RF. The security personnel of Assam Police and forest department under Digboi Division raided the residence of the accused arrested along with two more accomplices earlier on Saturday for allegedly carrying and storing of diesel in Lekhapani Reserve Forest.
According to forest personnel, notorious coal smuggler Kaushal Singh, along with his accomplices Rahul Singpho and Anil Prasad, were carrying 200 liters of diesel towards the said RF in a Bolero pickup vehicle AS23DC1662 meant for rat-hole mining in the protected and banned areas.
“We have filed an FIR with the local police station against Shrij Singh, the son of the accused, for engaging in heated arguments and rendering wrongful restraints to on-duty government officials and personnel. The son was reportedly involved in inter-state timber and coal trade,” reported one of the officials of the range.
Meanwhile, TC Ranjith Ram, IFS DFO Digboi, while hailing the pro-active initiative of Lekhapani Forest Range against the anti social elements, told The Sentinel that mining in the reserve forest and other jurisdiction of the forest department wouldn’t be tolerated come what may in the greater interest of preserving and protecting the rich biodiversity of the divisional landscape.
Meanwhile, based on case No. LP/44 of 2024-25 registered on March 29 at Lekhapani Range Office, violation of Assam Forest Regulation Act 1891, illegal entry into reserve forest and illegal coal mining inside Lekhapani Reserve Forest, the three accused were sent to jail.
Also Read: Assam: Sivasagar mourns demise of former minister’s daughter Upasa Phukan
Also Watch: