Mohali, Jan. 5 -- The Dera Bassi forest department busted a khair wood smuggling attempt during an operation carried out on Saturday, seizing a canter truck and a small canter vehicle loaded with timber. The smugglers, however, managed to escape from the spot. Acting under the leadership of forest range officer Jai Singh, the forest team conducted a raid following specific intelligence received around 2 am. According to the information, illegal felling and loading of khair wood was underway in the Bakarpur forest area. On receiving the tip-off from Gurdeep Singh, in-charge of Bakarpur forest beat, Jai Singh immediately mobilised the Dera Bassi range staff and launched a raid in the area. During patrolling, the forest team spotted unknown persons loading khair wood into a canter and a small canter vehicle. Seeing the forest officials approach, the smugglers abandoned both vehicles and fled, officials said. The forest department took both vehicles into custody and have also begun efforts to identify and trace the absconding smugglers. Jai Singh said the seized khair wood is estimated to be worth around Rs.5 lakh. "We have started legal action under the Forest Act and investigation is underway to identify those involved in the smuggling," he said.htc...