BoNSU and ATSU demand banning service provider of BTC Forest department

KOKRAJHAR: Bodo National Students’ Union (BoNSU) and Assam Tribal Students’ Union (ATSU) on Thursday demanded banning of service provider, NGO formed by BTC forest department for its involvement in massive timber logging and deforestation in reserve forests. The students’ bodies also demanded inquiry into illegal activities of timber logging and supplying at the behest of DFO and other forest officers.

On Wednesday, the local villagers stopped 8 tractors fully loaded with timber logs at 5 pm which were being brought by Surveilance/ Service provider NGO formed by Forest department at Daojeng Gonthong under Runikhata Range office. There had been exchange of argument between the activists of service providers and local villagers. The activists tried to show its might to pass the timber logs but the villagers who are aware of illegal activities of NGO/ service provider argued with them and informed the police. The service provider in a bid to escape from being caught by public said they brought the 640 CFT of timber logs at the order of EM of Forest department.

Later, the activists of BoNSU and ATSU reached the spot and ascertained the gravity of destruction of forest and illegal activities of service provider. The student organizations staged a protest near Chirang DC office, Kajalgaon and burnt the effigy of BTC Forest EM Ranjit Basumatary for his failure to deal with the illegal activities of NGO/service provider. They also submitted memorandum to Bhupender Yadav, Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India through District Commissioner, Chirang. The copy of which was also sent to Chandra Mahan Patowary, Minister of Environment and Forest, Government of Assam and CEM of Bodoland Territorial Council demanding action on the illegal activities in reserve forest of BTC by service provider and forest officials.

The BoNSU and ATSU mentioned the name of service provider who were involved in supplying of timber logs in 8 tractors that include Dinen Narzary Alias Daoki, S/O Katimol Narzary of village Santipur, Dampla Basumatary, S/O Bangadung Basumatary of village no. 1 Samodwisa, Santipur, Nihimiya Narzary, S/O Rimol Narzary of village Debolguri, Pitai Basumatary of village Atiabari Tinali Kokrajhar and Dhumketu Brahma Alias Dalang Bwrai, S/O Bijen Brahma of village Chakma. They were stopped and intercepted by the local villagers of Nakidara village, Santipur under Santipur Police Outpost. Later, some members of wildlife NGO named as Aron, helped the public to nab the culprits.

Reacting to media persons, the president of Aron NGO said there had been glaring examples of involvement of NGO activists and service provider in smuggling of timber logs and illegal activities. He said they fell down the green trees and use others in ferrying out from jungle and make dramatic seizure and transport it to different places. He also said every conscious citizen wants protection of forest but it is the activists of service provider/ NGO who are the destroyer of forest instead of saviour. These activists should be either removed or banned, he demanded.

Hemanto Narzary of Mahendrapur area in Jharbari under Haltugaon Division in Kokrajhar district was shot dead from point blank range by NGO activists stationed at Jharbari Range office on September 9 after altercation between timber smugglers and NGO activists. The altercation took place for money to pass the timber logs. The incident is registered at Serfanguri PS vide case No. 305/23, U/s 302/203/34 IPC where Range officer was jailed.

The BoNSU and ATSU demanded immediate arrest of activists of service provider/NGO involved in the illegal activities of timber smuggling. They also demanded that the Forest Surveillance/Service Provider NGO formed by the Executive Member of the Forest and Revenue Department BTC should be banned immediately and judicial enquiry should be conducted against the Forest Range officer and the DFO of the Forest department.

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