Smugglers were trying to evade department in pickup loaded with teak wood
Monday, 27 MAY 2024 | PNS | LALKUAN
One notorious timber smuggler was shot and injured in an encounter between timber smugglers and the Forest department. The encounter in the Terai central forest division resulted in the arrest of three men and a large quantity of timber being seized. The man injured in the encounter had been jailed in the past for killing a Forest department worker.
According to the Tanda range officer Roop Narayan Gautam, the Forest department received information early on Sunday morning that wood cut illegally from the Lalkuan area of the range was being transported in a vehicle. The special operation group and Forest department personnel reached the site and tried to halt the timber smugglers. However, the personnel were fired upon. When the personnel fired in response, notorious wildlife criminal Lakhvinder Singh of Bajpur in Udham Singh Nagar was hit by a bullet. He was admitted to the Sushila Tiwari hospital in Haldwani while the other smugglers were arrested from the spot. The department personnel seized a pickup vehicle loaded with Sagon (teak) wood, a motorcycle and a 315 bore country made gun from the accused. Gautam further informed that Singh is a notorious timber smuggler who had shot and killed a Forest department worker in 2019. He was sent to jail for the crime and was currently out of prison, the range officer said. The Forest department personnel managed to evade the shots fired by the accused during the encounter on Sunday. A case has been lodged against the accused in the Lalkuan Kotwali.
Police circle officer Sangeeta informed that legal proceedings are being undertaken against the accused.
