Siliguri, 01st July: Forest officials of the Dabgram Range seized illegal timber worth lakhs of rupees during a raid at Jalpai More in Siliguri on Monday. One person, identified as Bishwanath Barman from the Matigara area, was arrested in connection with the case.
According to reports, the forest department had received information about timber being smuggled to Bihar from Siliguri in a four-wheeler. Acting on the tip, officials intercepted a suspicious vehicle at Jalpai More. Upon searching it, they recovered a large quantity of illegal timber. The driver failed to produce valid documentation for the consignment and was taken into custody.
A man on a scooter was accompanying the four-wheeler but managed to flee the scene. The scooter was later seized. The forest department has launched a detailed investigation and a search is underway to trace the absconding individual.