Daijiworld Media Network - Sullia (SP)

Sullia, Nov 8: The behind-the-scene tug-of-war between the Subrahmanya police station and Panja range forest office has spilled into the open because of some dramatic developments witnessed of late.

It is alleged that after the tenure of the previous range forest officer Balakrishna Shetty, timber smuggling has become rampant in this region. Many incidents of timber smuggling from government forests located in Arampadi, Yennemajal, Kootkunja etc. were regularly reported in newspapers.

The Subrahmanya police station in-charge has confiscated several loads of timber being illegally transported from forests, since the last three months. In one of the cases, the forest department said that the sub-inspector of police had seized timber, transportation of which was permitted by it. The police sub-inspector retorted by saying that the licence was given for 23 logs, whereas 60 logs were found in the vehicle.  In the recent past, the forest department too seized five vehicles and timber, apart from arresting 10 people, to ensure that the policemen do not foray into their area of operation.

After a few forest department officials visited a furniture shop in Yenekal recently and found out that the Subrahmanya sub-inspector of police had delivered a few pieces of wood for making furniture there, rumour mills started churning out stories about finding timber in the jeep of the sub-inspector.  The sub-inspector then visited the range forest officer and discussed the issue. The office of the range forest officer said when contacted that they have seized some wooden pieces from the furniture shop and are still investigating about the incident and that the role of policemen in the issue is yet to be established.

Several BJP workers and citizens gathered in front of the office of the local assistant conservator of forests on Friday evening and raised slogans against the Subrahmanya SI and demanded for his arrest. When the car of a timber merchant arrived at the spot, they mobbed it. The policemen dispersed the crowd thereafter.