PONDA: The Forest Department seized wood worth around 1 lakh and booked 12 persons for allegedly smuggling catechu wood.
The investigation revealed that the vehicle seized by the Valpoi forest department for smuggling the catechu wood in Guleli and Keri has connections in the Sacorda.
Meanwhile, the applicant who claimed forest rights in Bhomakato, Sacorda jungle where khair trees have been felled in large numbers could get into trouble.
It may be recalled that the Valpoi forest officials had seized a sumo vehicle at Guleli on February 4 for smuggling catechu wood trees while detaining 12 persons involved. Later on February 13, another vehicle was caught at Keri, Sattari smuggling wood and investigations revealed that the accused behind both the incidents were the same.
The Collem Forest department has now filed complaints against Nambu Babu Patkani, 30, Lakshman Patkani, 29, Pandu Banegade, 26, Babu Gangu Yedge, 35, Bamu Shinde, 21, Vabu Patkani, 27, Kedar Banegade, 29, Bhiku Patkani, 23, Vitthal Patkani, 42, Balu Patkani, 28, Maruti Katraut, 31, all from Karnataka and Nitin Bhaygo Gaude from Dodamarg, Maharashtra.
Collem forest officials led by RFO Ravi Shirodkar had inspected the forest of Bhomakato in Sacorda on Wednesday where they had found many khair trees were felled. On Thursday, forest officials found that one person had claimed sanad over the place under Forests Rights Act who was unaware about the situation.
During the investigation, officials learnt that many locals from Maharashtra, especially from the border, venture into Goan forests to smuggle wood. Valpoi RFO Shaymsundar Gawas and Collem RFO Ravi Shirodkar cracked the case under the guidance of Jis Varki, deputy conservator of forests, North Goa.
“In the cases of smuggling wood from Guleli and Keri, we have seized two vehicles and wood cutting tools and have filed a case against 12 persons,” said Varki.
Meanwhile, locals have claimed that the main mastermind behind the smuggling racket must be a local person as people from Dodamarg will not venture into the deep forests of Sattari without help from a local guide.
