Smuggling of timber surges in Sirmaur amid lax enforcement

In the absence of effective enforcement, the forest mafia in the bordering areas of Sirmaur district continues to thrive, with no end in sight to the increasing cases of timber smuggling.

Just over a month after a shocking case in which 30 khair (Acacia catechu) trees were illegally felled in the Behral forest on April 3, another incident has come to light. A forest patrol team led by Block Forest Officer Inder Singh, along with staff members Kailash and Vijay, intercepted a vehicle near Kacchi Dhang around 4 am today.

The vehicle, originating from Kafota, was found transporting 58 logs of khair wood without proper documentation. Valued at Rs 4.54 lakh, the timber was seized under Section 52 of the Indian Forest Act for violating the Himachal Pradesh Forest Produce Transit (Land Routes) Rules, 2013.

This marks the second major smuggling incident in just 39 days. Forest officials are now investigating the broader network behind the operation, trying to trace its backward and forward linkages.

Records show that since September 2022, 14 timber smuggling cases involving 71 trees have been reported, most involving khair trees—highly valued for their use in katha manufacturing. Despite repeated FIRs by forest officials, police have yet to file chargesheets in these cases.

In the April 3 case, forest officials revealed that CCTV cameras at the Behral inter-state barrier and a nearby high school were non-functional during the time of the crime. While the Forest Department has blamed this lapse for the undetected smuggling, the police have refuted these claims. Additionally, a key inter-state police barrier at Behral—previously established to curb smuggling of timber, mining material, and drugs into Haryana—was recently dismantled. This, officials say, has only worsened the problem. The barrier has now been temporarily reinstated following heightened security concerns with Pakistan.

Meanwhile, police maintain that the Forest Department’s delay in reporting such incidents hinders effective investigation. Paonta DSP Manvender Singh said evidence often vanishes by the time police are informed. However, he confirmed that leads are pointing towards the involvement of an inter-state gang operating from nearby Haryana and arrests are likely soon.

Smugglers typically use power chain-saws to rapidly cut down trees and transport the timber using local utility vehicles. The wood is then sold across the border in Uttarakhand and Haryana, where it ends up in katha factories or sawmills.

Sirmaur SP Nischint Negi defended the removal of the Behral police barrier, stating it was never officially sanctioned and had a poor record of interception. He pointed out that the forest department has its own check posts and surveillance systems to tackle smuggling.

However, experts stress the urgent need for better coordination between forest and police departments. With porous routes, organised smuggling networks, and mounting timber losses, both agencies must work together instead of trading blame. The growing frequency and volume of khair smuggling demand immediate and unified action.