Seven persons along with five tipper trucks and two JCB earth excavators were arrested by the Sagolmang Police on Saturday morning for digging out lands in the compartment No.1 and 3 of Sambei Purum Reserved Forest area.

A joint team led by officer in-charge (OC) of Sagolmang Police Station, range officer of Nongmaiching and range officer of Sawombung arrested the seven people.

A senior officer of Central Forest Division said that initially there had been another case of digging out land from the reserved forest area and people had been notified to stop such activities.

He continued that digging of land in the reserved forest areas is punishable as per Section 26 of Indian Forest Act, 1927. The same information of prohibition of such activities has also been circulated in the social media and made several announcements through loudspeakers. However, few people still tend to violate the law, he added.

A case has been registered against the arrested persons at Pangei Forest Beat Office for further action to be taken up as per law, said a police source.