Itahari, February 5:

Timber thieves felled and smuggled over 250 trees from the East-West Highway in Inaruwa while the administration was busy trying to maintain peace and imposing curfew in bazaar areas.

“Over 250 trees of different species, which were preserved by the Roads Division, were smuggled at night during curfew hours,” said Mozammul Ansari, a worker in the Roads Division Office. The timber smuggling started the very night curfew was imposed.

“People from the landless settlement in Inaruwa and locals of Kansamran were involved in timber smuggling,” said Ansari. However, since Saturday the timber thieves have become active in the daytime, too. That day, they felled around 50 trees. Children, women and men all are part of the timber thieves’ gang. Thieves cut down and smuggled old and huge trees along the roadside on Thursday and Friday nights, said a local Medani Baral.

“When the preserved trees were cut down and smuggled, we informed the police and the district forest office. However, neither showed any interest,” Ansari said, adding that the local administration has stated that it is busy maintaining security situation in the district and that it is failing to catch timber smugglers.

DSP Yadav Raj Khanal in Sunsari said: “We are engaged in maintaining peace in the district. Our hands are so full, we are unable to crack down on the timber thieves.”

Forest Officer Murari Pokharel said: “Agitators have torched government offices. Hence, the workers are feeling insecure and it is difficult to preserve the trees.”