Puttur: Officials of the Mangaluru forest mobile squad seized illegally transported timber and the lorry carrying it during an operation at Santosh Nagar in Keyyur village. The operation was carried out based on reliable information about the illegal movement of timber from Bellare towards Puttur.
The accused, identified as Ismail, a resident of Madavu, was arrested and a case was registered in connection with the illegal felling and transportation of timber.
Lorry intercepted following tip-off
According to forest officials, Kiralu Bogi trees had allegedly been felled illegally at Nettaru without obtaining the required permission from the Forest Department. The timber was subsequently loaded onto a lorry for transportation.
Acting on a specific tip-off, personnel from the Mangaluru forest mobile squad intercepted the lorry at Santosh Nagar in Keyyur village. The vehicle was reportedly travelling from Bellare towards Puttur when officials stopped it for inspection.
During the inspection, the officials found timber logs being transported without the necessary authorisation. The timber was seized and the lorry used for transporting the logs was also taken into custody.
Accused arrested, case registered
Forest officials arrested Ismail in connection with the alleged illegal felling and transportation of the timber. A case has been registered against him under the relevant provisions of forest laws.
The total value of the seized timber and the lorry has been estimated at around Rs 5 lakh.
The seizure is part of efforts by forest authorities to prevent unauthorised tree felling and the illegal transportation of forest produce in the region. Officials have been conducting checks based on information regarding the movement of timber without the required permits.
Forest squad officials conduct operation
Mangaluru forest mobile squad zone forest officer Santosh Rai led the operation. Deputy zone forest officers Shivanand and Somanath, along with vehicle driver Jayaprakash, participated in the raid and seizure.
The Forest Department is expected to continue monitoring the transportation of timber and forest produce in areas under its jurisdiction. Officials have also urged the public to report information regarding illegal felling and unauthorised transportation of timber.
The seizure in Keyyur underscores the importance of enforcement measures to curb illegal tree felling and protect forest resources. Further investigation will determine the circumstances surrounding the felling of the trees and the intended destination of the seized timber.