the goan I network
valpoi
A forest personnel was reportedly attacked at Virdi-Sankhali, while the accused was later nabbed on charges of illegally cutting and transporting khair wood from the area on Saturday night.
According to reports, Range Forest Officer Vivek Gaonkar acted on a tip off and mobilised his team to catch the accused, Pralhad Chari of Virdi-Sankhali, who was alleged transporting illegally cut khair logs from Surla-Keri in his vehicle (GA-01-T-5900).
The owner had driven the vehicle from the tree-cutting site in Surla to his native village Virdi. After a chase, the vehicle was found at Virdi. A team of 3 forest guards, including Surla Beat Guard Shekhar Gawas, reached the site and questioned the accused about permission to cut and transport khair wood, which he did not possess.
At first, the offender tried to burn the vehicle and then set himself ablaze. However, these attempts were foiled by forest guards. Finding no way to escape, the offender attacked the forest personal on duty with a sharp knife.
However, the forest guards did not let him succeed in his attempt and later with the assistance of Bicholim Police, the offender was finally nabbed and taken into custody by Bicholim Police team led by PI Sanjay Dalvi.
Later, an FIR for attempt to murder was lodged by the beat guard concerned. The offender, Pralhad Chari, was arrested by Bicholim Police and sent to police custody. An offence for illegal cutting and transportation of khair wood has also been booked by the RFO Keri.
About 47 logs of khair wood of 1 cubic metre volume and the vehicle has been seized. The khair wood has a market value of Rs 50,000 and the forest team suspects further recovery of wood is anticipated as the accused is alleged to have hidden the wood at different places.
Khair wood has a huge market value in adjoining Sawantwadi-Maharashtra.
Other forest guards involved in the operation included Rama Dergunkar, Devu Shetkar, Hussain Shaikh, Satyawan Gawas and Vijay Shirodkar.
