Assam Forest Rangers Shut Down Four Illegal Sawmills in Dhubri

Guwahati: Dhubri Forest Division rangers crushed four illegal sawmills during a midnight raid in the Jambari area. The operation caught operators by surprise. Armed with intelligence on timber processing, officials moved in under the cover of darkness. The raid occurred under the command of the headquarters ranger and the watchful eye of Divisional Forest Officer Golap Kumar Bania.

The crews destroyed the unregistered sites immediately. They seized band saws, diesel engines, motor equipment, and cutter blades. The haul also included a massive stock of sal and teak timber. This wood carries a black market value of several lakh rupees. Authorities also took transport and handling gear linked to the illegal trade.

Forest officials moved everything to an inventory site for processing. The Dhubri Forest Division filed official cases against the operators under the Assam Forest Regulation, 1891. "Surveillance had been intensified in vulnerable areas of the district to curb illegal logging and timber trafficking," authorities said. Investigators are currently picking apart the supply network, and more arrests remain likely as the case unfolds.