Forest Dept Foils Inter-State Catechu Wood Smuggling, 6 Arrested in Alipurduar

• Jaldapara National Park authorities seized valuable catechu wood and arrested six individuals in an overnight operation.
• A team from the South Range intercepted two vehicles, a truck and a car, at Putimari More in Alipurduar.
• The arrested individuals, from Himachal Pradesh, Cooch Behar, Jalpaiguri, and Bihar, reveal an inter-state smuggling network spanning Assam, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, and Bangladesh border regions.
• The vehicles used in the crime have been seized, and legal proceedings initiated under the Forest and Wildlife Protection Act.
• Catechu is an ancient herbal ingredient used with betel leaf, effective for diarrhea, mouth ulcers, and gum bleeding.