Tura, Sept. 30: Forest officials from Tura-Williamnagar range in Meghalaya seized a large consignment of timber at a spot between Rombagre and Oragitok in the West Garo Hills around 2am today.

The group of “timber mafias” managed to escape when the forest officials retaliated in response to a firing.

Forest range officer Chongkim Sangma told The Telegraph, “The incident took place in the wee hours while we were on a regular patrolling. I was moving towards Williamnagar from Tura along with my team.”

He said while they were approaching the truck loaded with timber, the alleged mafias fired at them. “We retaliated but they managed to escape,” said Sangma.

No one was injured during the incident.

“We have seized the truck and have registered a case under Meghalaya Forest Regulation Act, 1973,” he added.

Officials seized about 20 large logs that had been cut down by the timber mafia. They were trying to transport these logs from East Garo Hills to neighbouring Goalpara in Assam.

The seized truck belongs to Nizamuddin of Goalpara.

In the past month, about 10 trucks loaded with timber, including pick-up vans, were intercepted by the team along the Williamnagar-Tura route.

Officials said lack of manpower in the department has posed a hindrance in managing the forest, which in turn has led to depletion of vast green cover from the reserve. In Baija and Khera reserve forests in the East Garo Hills, at least 60 per cent of green cover has been depleted.

Forest guards serving in militant-infested Garo hills have become vulnerable after the spurt of violent incidents. Officials said the forest department had asked the government to provide armed homeguards to help the forest guards, but there has been no response.

Four months ago, the unarmed homeguards were also sacked by the government, who were providing support in terms of manpower to the forest department.

Officials said the weapons provided to the forest guards by the department are meant only to check poaching and tackle wild animals and are inadequate to match the firepower of the automatic weapons.

In June this year, forest minister Prestone Tynsong had admitted on the floor of the Assembly that the forest guards do not have sophisticated weapons. There were instances when militants have snatched away weapons of the forest guards in Garo hills.

In 2011, suspected militants stole seven rifles, including four SBBL guns, from the forest department range office in Chidekgre under Williamnagar in the East Garo Hills.