Lagatar24 Network
Dumka, Dec.6: Three employees of the forest department received serious injuries in an unprecedented attack by a group of wood smugglers in Kalibhitta village under Taljhari police station of Sahebganj district last night.
The incident took place when the forest staff intercepted a tractor loaded with precious timbers illegally procured from deep forests situated above the Kalibhitta hills. Nearly two dozen wood smugglers started assaulting them with sticks and rods in which three became senseless.
The rest of the forest staff somehow managed to run away after freeing themselves from the clutches of the smugglers and reached the Borio-based forest office. They informed the officials about the attack and then the injured ones were brought back and admitted to the hospital for treatment.
Those having sustained injuries include Bhim Sen Malto, Abhishek Kumar Singh and Amit Kumar who according to the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Manish Tiwari are still undergoing treatment at Sadar Hospital in Sahebganj.
“By the time another team of forest department reached the spot, wood smugglers had escaped along with the tractor,” the DFO said in a press conference on Monday adding two persons including Najrul Ansari and Awauddin Ansari were arrested in this connection.
“Attempts are on to identify other culprits for suitable legal action against them all for attacking the forest staff and smuggling of woods,” he added.
