RAUTAHAT, FEBRUARY 12 Two pieces of illegally felled sal timber, along with a vehicle and a motorcycle, were seized in an abandoned condition from a forest area in Rautahat district on Wednesday night. According to the Division Forest Office, the timber was being smuggled out of the forest using an Indian-registered Sumo jeep (BR 1 AP 9614). Acting on a tip-off, a joint patrol team from the Jungalsahiya Sub-Division Forest Office and the Armed Police Force reached the site at around 9:30 pm. Upon noticing the security personnel, individuals involved in the smuggling fled the scene, leaving behind the vehicle loaded with sal logs and a Nepali-registered motorcycle. Division Forest Office Chief Binod Jethara said two pieces of sal log timber, the Sumo jeep and the motorcycle were confiscated during the operation. The seized items have been kept at the Division Forest Office in Chandrapur for further investigation. The incident occurred near the Bagmati Canal under the Jungalsahiya Partnership Forest area. Authorities have launched an investigation to identify and apprehend those involved in the illegal timber trade.