Two JCB and three Dipper were caught today by Thoubal Haokha Forest Range patrol team while excavating the hill range of Waithou and Thoubal Khunou Protected Area.
Thingbaijam Lokendro, Forest Range Officer, Thoubal Haokha, Thoubal said that one JCB and one dipper were caught along with 2 drivers while inspecting the Waithou protected area (Usoipokpi) at around 12 pm and one JCB and two dipper were also caught along with 1 driver from Thoubal Khunou protected area at around 9:30 am today.
The caught drivers of the JCB and dipper were handed over to Lilong Police and Thoubal Police, he added.
Thingbaijam Lokendro further said that Thoubal Haokha Forest Range has already warned to those who are excavating the hills at the Waithou and Thoubal Khunou protected area not to excavate. Despite their warning excavating has been continuing. On noticing this, forest range petrol teams were deployed to inspect the protected area and today they were able to nab the JCBs and dippers and the drivers, he added.
Registration number and the names of the caught vehicles and the drivers are not yet known while some drivers manage to escape.