DFO, SP spar over timber seizure
Source: Chronicle News Service / Kaimuanthang Mangte
Churachandpur, June 13 2021:
A Tata truck carrying unauthorised timber was seized on Saturday around 6:30 am by a team of Henglep police station led by its officer in-charge at Munlai village and later handed over to Range Forest Officer, Henglep.
The incident has led to be a verbal spat between the DFO and SP of Churachandpur district over who has the right and authority to make seizure of such illegal timber.
The truck bearing registration number MN01 7218 was found carrying four logs of timber (ucham) measuring 7.66 cubic metres.
A Preliminary Offence Report (POR) has been prepared and the driver of the vehicle, Thanglenmang Singsit (27), s/o Sehlun Singsit of Leijangphai village in Thanlon Sub-Division under Pherzawl district released on bail after his statement was taken.
When contacted, the DFO Churachandpur said that no police were given order to carry out such arrest.
However, the SP Churachandpur responded differently to the case asking whether there is any law which states that police are permitted to act only on DFO's order.