Forest uniform for green group - Baton and bicycle aid to protect trees from smugglers
North Khayerbari (Alipurduar): A group of farmers from a fringe village here has been patrolling the forests for free in their spare time to keep away timber smugglers. To protect the group from confrontation with the smugglers, the forest department today provided the 24 men with uniforms complete with a T-shirt, cap, name plate, baton, torch and bicycle. "The group will get Rs 2,000 per month for tiffin,' said Ashim Chaki, the range officer of Madarihat, which comes under Cooch Behar forest division.