Miscreants pelted stones at a group of forestry officials, injuring one of them, at around 3:30am, in Paro, today. The official sustained a four-centimetre gash on the head and had to get nine stitches.
The incident took place at Nemjo towards Drugyal Dzong. The officials were in the middle of an investigation, involving a trucker- intercepted for carrying illegal sandalwood. The sandalwood had been concealed under sand, the truck was supposedly ferrying to one of the schools.
The driver, who also owns the truck, had refused to be involved after he was stopped by the officials at around 6pm. The officials had said they will follow the truck to the school and inspect the vehicle while unloading.
However, the vehicle had fallen into a drain at Nemjo. The officials inspected the vehicle and found the concealed sandalwood.
At around 1am, the driver finally agreed to go home and the officials dropped him off in their vehicle. But, he came back to Nemjo- where his vehicle was- and started talking to the officials. It was 2:15am.
In the middle of the conversation, one of the officials noticed three men stealing sandalwood from the truck. The officials started shouting. By the time, the driver had picked up stones and was running after the miscreants.
It was pitch-dark.
Suddenly, stones were hurtled at the running officials, hitting one on the head.
Police have filed a case against the driver who hails from Wangchang Gewog in Paro.
