The Saloma Forest Range under Nagaon Forest Division in Kamrup, Assam, has turned into a major hub of timber smugglers and anti-social activities, thanks to the political interference and the negligence on the part of Forest officials. Whereas the smugglers are armed with sophisticated weapons, the Forest officials here don't even have sufficient arms, vehicles etc., to tackle them. Sources in the Department told The Sentinel that that even after informing about all these problems through proper channels, the authorities concerned are yet to take any decision in this regard for the reasons best known to them. Blasting the activities of the Forest Department here, a section of villagers near the forest range alleged that the stalwarts in the Forest Department are in the pockets of the smugglers, so they don't like to strengthen the power of the Forest guards to tackle the smugglers.