An ambulance of the 108 integrated call centre, which caters to medical emergencies in Madhya Pradesh, was caught carrying teak wood logs along with an oxygen cylinder in Katthiwada area of Alirajpur district, some five kilometres away from the Gujarat border, an official said on Monday.
Local residents stopped the vehicle late Saturday night after suspecting it may be smuggling teak wood cut from the Bhavra area or liquor and then informed forest department personnel, the official said.
"We got a tip off around 10pm on October 23 that a vehicle carrying teak wood from Bhavra was coming to Katthiwada. However, before we could arrive at the spot, the villagers had intercepted the vehicle. It was part of the 108 ambulance service with its registration starting with MP 02," Katthiwada forest ranger Yogendra Singh Bilwal told PTI on Monday morning.
"The seized teak wood, the cutting of which is banned across India, is worth Rs 15,000. Driver Vikram Dhakat (29) and his helper Arun Bamania (30), who fled from the spot, were later arrested. They have told us the teak wood was being taken to a police constable's place," he added.
The 108 ambulance service is run by the MP government under the public-private partnership model.
On Roads "Better Than US" Question, Madhya Pradesh Minister's "Impractical" Reply Boy, 13, Dies While Dancing To Loud Music On DJ In Madhya Pradesh Man Who Raised 'Pak Zindabad' Slogan To Chant 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' For Bail MK Stalin Asks Centre To Recall Tamil Nadu Governor In Row Over Anthem Tamil Nadu Police's Counter Petition In Supreme Court Against Sadhguru Watch: Harris's Witty Reply Stumps Hecklers Backing Trump, Crowd Applauds Trump Says He Would Impose Tariffs On China If It Went Into Taiwan Vistara's Delhi-London Flight Diverted To Frankfurt After Bomb Threat Harris, Trump Barnstorm Key State Michigan, Where Polls Say They're Tied Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.