High expectations from new Sadiya SP to check timber smuggling

Our Correspondent

TINSUKIA: Ever since Dr Bhupen Hazarika Setu (Dholla-Sadiya Bridge) connecting Sadiya/Arunchal Pradesh in the north bank and Dholla in south bank of River Brahmaputra was opened last year for public transport, Sadiya transit route turned out to be a haven for timber and liquor smugglers.

To facilitate better police functioning, Sadiya was carved out of Tinsukia district and made separate police district with the establishment of Saikhowa police station at the entry point of the bridge on the southern side. Though smuggling of timber from Arunachal Pradesh was a perennial issue since 1996 after the Supreme Court imposed ban on timber felling, the illegal activities were never stopped. Instead, with the alleged involvement of police and forest officials, nefarious activities bloomed into higher magnitude in recent months. Earlier illegal activities used to go unnoticed as the mafias preferred vast riverine routes of Brahmaputra to transport illegal logs.

Two recent cases were enough to establish ongoing clandestine operations. On December 1, the Sadiya police intercepted a log-laden truck bearing Tinsukia registration number AS 23 AC 8755 valued around Rs 40 lakh and further search led to the recovery of two pistols of .22 and .32 calibre, five live bullets, two driving licences of the same person, an ATM card and one machete. Though a case was registered against timber mafia and gun traffickers at Sadiya police station 168/18 u/s 379/34/25, the police have failed to nab the culprits yet which points towards a close nexus among mafia, some police and forest officials.

In the second case, on Monday security forces led by Debojit Deori, newly-appointed Superintendent of Police of Sadiya, seized two trucks (AS 01 H 2054 and AS 01 CC 8922) loaded with illegally felt logs from Bishnupur-Islampur Naka Point under Sadiya police station. Three persons have been arrested in this connection and a .22 pistol have been recovered from their possession. The miscreants had brought the logs from Deopani reserve forest in Arunachal Pradesh after felling them illegally without possessing any document. The security forces included a team of army personnel from 20 Madras Regiment, CRPF and Assam Police battalion.

It is widely expected that the newly-appointed SP will be able to curb the illegal activities, particularly in respect of timber and liquor smuggling rampant in Sadiya subdivision. Talking to The Sentinel Sadiya SP Debojit Deori said he would act lawfully and put his best efforts to contain the menace with active support of public and mediapersons.

Also Read: Steps sought to check illegal felling of trees, timber smuggling