Another 30 trees were felled yesterday in Aslom Punji (village) near Nahar Tea Garden in Srimangal of Moulivibazar though those were not marked for felling, alleged ethnic Khasia people.
Mahaldar's (trader) men backed off as a group of around 25 Khasias confronted them felling the trees.
"But they threatened us of dire consequence if there is any resistance tomorrow [today]," said Dibarmin, a Khasia of Aslom Punji.
The local community apprehended a clash today if the trader's men continue the felling of trees where the Khasia people cultivate betel leaf as their livelihood.
"Out of the 33 trees they felled, 30 were unmarked," said Dibarmin "We asked the trader's men to show the 450 trees those government and High Court instructed not to fell."
Meanwhile, the trader has started dragging hundreds of the chopped trees with elephants in Kailin Punji, he said.
Messrs Salim Timber and Traders embarked on tree felling on March 13 at Kailin Punji of Nahar Tea Garden after a HC bench directed the forest department authorities and local administration to allow cutting down 3,550 trees.
The timber trader Salim Uddin Mohaldar's men felled approximately 1,650 trees until March 22.
Salim Uddin bought a total of 4,000 trees from Nahar Tea Garden at a cost of Tk 1.5 crore in 2008 and felled 1,200 trees immediately following a government permit.