_20200411122359.jpg)
ARGHAKHANCHI, April 11: Wood smugglers have stepped up their activities in Arghakhanchi at a time when the ongoing lockdown imposed to stem the spread of coronavirus has ground life to a halt for most people across the country.
Taking advantage of this period, smugglers were found to have involved in chopping down trees and trading the wood from various community forests in Sitganga municipality of the district.
Smuggling goods on the rise in Bara
The forests along Khayarbhatti, Lungri, Simalpani, Harre areas bordering Dang and Kapilvastu districts are being targeted by the unscrupulous smugglers making the best use of this pandemic situation.
As the timber smuggling is on the rise, District Forest Office, Arghakhanchi has started patrolling the forest areas.
According to the chief at Division Forest Office Shiva Sharma, some seven big sal trees were found to have stolen from a forest of ward-11 of the municipality. Acting on a tip-off, DFO has kept vigil. It has also taken control of some felled trees from the forest. “We have been searching for the smugglers who are at large,” Sharma added.
