National
Forest staff linked in timber smuggling case
A probe conducted by the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) following the seizure of 75.33 cu ft timber from Chure forest in Udayapur on Sunday has found out that the timber smugglers were working in collusion with the forest employees.A probe conducted by the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) following the seizure of 75.33 cu ft timber from Chure forest in Udayapur on Sunday has found out that the timber smugglers were working in collusion with the forest employees.
The CIAA investigators believe that the sector forest officer of Katari could somehow be connected with the case. Some of his colleagues have also accused him of ignoring the activities of timber smugglers in the Chure forest of late.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Chiranjibi Koirala said they were suspecting the forest officer because his story about timber smugglers shooting at forest patrol does not add up.
He could not tell when or where the timber smugglers had open fired and he is not giving clear answers, the DSP added.
The accused forest officer has denied the allegations and threatened to go to court if he is implicated.