Foresters book 3 for illegal felling in Ravangla, main accused still absconding

NAMCHI, 20 Jan: Illicit felling of trees is a crime but is still in practice in various parts of the state which has been proven by a recent incident at one of the Reserve Forests under Ravangla Sub Division in South Sikkim.
Forest Department personnel, during a routine patrolling in the Ravangla Range, discovered that illegal felling was underway inside the reserve forest of Kopchey-Pathing.
Following this, an FIR was lodged by the BO (T), Ravangla, Sanjeev Kr. Chettri at the office of Range Officer (T) Ravangla detailing that an illegally felled ‘katus’ tree had also been found during the patrolling.
On 17 January, a case was registered as Rabong Forest Case No: 26/RTR/STD/2012 Dated 17/01/2012 Under Section 20 (g) (ii) (h) (i) (k)/ 83/ 84 of SFWC, RR, P&P Act, 1988 and investigation initiated.
Range Officer (T), Ravangla, Anup Jyoti Banya, informed that three accused - Bal Bahadur Rai, Roshan Rai and Thirtha Manger - were arrested and produced before the Judicial Magistrate, District & Sessions Court, South and West at Namchi from where they have been sent to the district jail at Namchi on 15 days Judicial remand.
During interrogation the accused are reported to have revealed that the main culprit behind the illicit felling of trees was one Kesher Lal Gurung of Pathing village, Yangang, South Sikkim, the RO further informed. A criminal case has been registered against him by the Department of Forest, Environment and Wild Life Management Department, Territorial Division at Ravangla.
While the main accused is still absconding, the RO assured that the matter has been taken up seriously by the Department and the accused will be put behind bars soon.