Surat: A pre-dawn pursuit of suspected timber smugglers on NH-53 in Tapi district ended in tragedy on Monday when a young range forest officer (RFO) was killed in a crash while pursuing an SUV allegedly transporting illegally felled khair wood to Maharashtra. The accident also killed an alleged smuggler.
Vikas Desai, RFO
Tapty range forest officer Vikas Desai, 30, died in the early hours of Monday in the accident between Songadh and Uchchhal on National Highway 53.Desai was the Tapty range under the Vyara forest division. Uchchhal police booked the driver of the vehicle allegedly used for smuggling for rash and negligent driving. One alleged smuggler, Rihan Gamit, also died in the incident. He was in the passenger seat of the vehicle.Tapi superintendent of police J N Desai told TOI: “The incident took place around 3am. The officer had received a tip-off that an Innova car would be smuggling khair wood to Maharashtra. He kept a watch and chased the smugglers in his hatchback. After a few kilometres, the left side of the smugglers’ car hit a stationary tanker on highway. This led the RFO’s car to it. Gamit, who was sitting on the passenger seat of the Innova, died while its driver fled. We have booked driver for rash and negligent driving endangering peoples’ life.”A large quantity of wood spilled onto the highway after the crash. The incident sent shockwaves through the forest department and district administration. The Navsari collectorate observed a minute’s silence before the day’s first official meeting.Originally from Bhatsar village in Chanasma taluka of Patan district, Desai was known as a hardworking and sincere officer. He joined the forest department three years ago after serving as a deputy section officer in the secretariat.Desai is survived by his parents, wife and five-year-old son. As the Tapty range forest officer, he was based in Ukai town of Tapi district.Gujarat forest minister Arjun Modhwadia said: “The RFO got information and went to carry out the raid in his own car. The forest department has been taking measures to curb such smuggling and have even raided premises in Maharashtra. These matters will not be taken lightly.”
