Dang: In Dhongiamba village of the Kalibel range, Dang North Forest Division, forest department staffers were assaulted while attempting to halt wood trafficking last night. Eight forest department staffers were held hostage and brutally beaten, sustaining severe, life-threatening injuries. They were subsequently transported to Ahwa Civil Hospital for medical treatment.

Upon receiving information about teak wood trafficking in the jungles of Purna Wildlife Sanctuary, forest department staffers rushed to Dhongiamba village to halt the activity. Upon arrival, they found themselves surrounded by traffickers, aided by local villagers, resulting in the abduction and severe beating of the eight forest workers.

Further information revealed that the accused had previously held two forest dept. officials hostage to force authorities to release three traffickers they had caught. When the Kalibel range staff arrived with the detained traffickers, the situation worsened. This led to an attack on the forest dept officials with wooden sticks and axes. The staffers sustained severe and life-threatening injuries from the attack. They called for an ambulance and were rushed to Ahwa Civil Hospital for treatment.

Following the incident, police, led by Yashpal Jaganiyana and DYSP S.G. Patil, in collaboration with the District Local Crime Branch and SOG staff, apprehended five accused and launched a search for others involved. DYSP S.G. Patil confirmed that last night’s operation was prompted by information regarding wood trafficking in the area, with police currently pursuing leads to apprehend additional suspects. DesjGujarat