Teakwood logs worth Rs 5 lakh seized

Adilabad: Forest officials seized a lorry illegally carrying teakwood logs at Kutti Ghat in Neradigonda mandal on Thursday night. The value of the logs is estimated to be Rs 5 lakh. The smugglers fled from the spot.

Kawal Wildlife Sanctuary Forest Range Officer (FRO) Gulab Singh said that the teakwood log-laden lorry was caught at Mangalmot village near Kutti Ghat, following a tip-off. The driver and offenders ran away and left the vehicle upon noticing sleuths of the Forest Department. The



lorry was shifted to a timber depot at Echoda mandal centre, he added.

Sources said that smugglers had been felling teak trees from forests of Kadem and Khanapur mandals of Nirmal district, and transporting logs on lorries and vans to Nizamabad district via Echoda mandal. They earn huge profits by selling the teakwood in the neighbouring district. Although forest officials have intensified raids, smuggling has been going unabated in Adilabad and Nirmal districts, the source added.