Morung Express News
Dimapur | January 17
The Dimapur police issued a rejoinder today stating that it did not register any case in connection to the reported catch of smuggled Burma teak by the Assam Rifles on January 11.
It was reported in the media, basing on a press release issued by the Defence PRO, Kohima, on January 15 that the catch was made by AR troops at a mobile check-post near Pherima, Dimapur. As per the release, alongwith some 3600 cubic feet of timber estimated to be worth over Rs 2cr, 19 persons were also apprehended. The timber was being transported in 9 trucks bound towards Dimapur.
“The recovered teak and the apprehended individuals have been handed over to East Police Station, Dimapur for further investigations,” the Defence release said.
On the otherhand, the Dimapur police in its rejoinder maintained, “No such seized consignment was reported to any of the Police Station and as such it cannot confirm on the authenticity of such a seizure as claimed by the concerned agency.”
The counter claims put a question mark on the veracity of the incident. It was though learnt that the impounded timber consignment and the apprehended individuals were actually handed over to the Nagaland Forest Department.
As told to The Morung Express by official sources, the Forest Department forwarded the case to the court on January 17 and the apprehended individuals handed over to the West Police Station the same day for safe custody, while the legal proceedings were underway.
