Kher wood seized

SURAT, March 4: The Valsad forest department officials seized kher wood worth Rs 1.5 lakhs from a village in Dharampur on Wednesday. Although the truck being used in transporting the illegally cut wood was also seized, three accused, including the truck driver, managed to escape, the department officials said. Acting on a tip-off, Deputy Conservator of forests of Valsad P O Singh, RFO S V Kedariya and others intercepted a truck GJ 1 U 6288 filled with 7.5 tonnes of kher wood, cut illegally from government forests off Nani Vahiyal village.

The Delhi-bound truck was being escorted by two motorcycle-borne youths, who managed to escape from the spot, department officials said.