Ctg forest officer hurt in 'gunfight' with loggers

A forest officer was injured during a 'gunfight' between loggers and police at a reserve forest in Rangunia upazila of Chittagong yesterday.

Dilip Kanti Barua, 50, Bogabil beat officer in Ichhamoti range under Chittagong Forest Division (north) received bullet injuries in his right chest.

Forest officials said on information, Dilip with a team of police rushed in Bogabil area when a gang 15 loggers were cutting 'Akashmoni' trees and loading those in a jeep around 3:00am.

The loggers opened fire at them prompting the law enforcers to retaliate and fled leaving the jeep.

Later, around 10:00am the loggers returned with 40 to 50 accomplices and snatched the jeep by brandishing firearms, said the officials.

The officials also recovered 30 to 40 cubic feet of timber worth Tk 30,000.