MEERUT, Feb. 18 -- A technology-driven crackdown has exposed an inter-state gang smuggling prized khair timber across state borders, with the Rampur forest division's 'Operation Khair' recovering over 500 quintals of illegally felled wood from Punjab and arresting three people.

The operation tracked a vehicle carrying contraband wood overnight before tracing it to a stockpile in the Rajpura area of Patiala district, Punjab, where between 450 and 500 quintals of khair timber were found stored and being processed. Three vehicles alleged to have been used in the smuggling operation were also seized. A fourth suspect remains at large.

Divisional forest officer (DFO) Pranav Jain said the haul, valued at over Rs.50 lakh, marks the first time ...