(1) Any Forest Officer not below the rank of Forester and any Police Officer not below the rank of Assistant Sub-Inspector of Police, who from his personal knowledge or information received, and after such enquiry as he may consider necessary, has reason to believe that any person has committed an offence under this Act, may -
(a) enter and search, at all reasonable times, any premises, land, vehicle or vessel in the occupation of such person ;
(b) required such person to produce for his inspection the licence or any other documents granted by the competent authority or any books of accounts or other documents that may have any bearing on such offence ;
J H E ASSAM GAZETTE, EXTRAORDINARY. OCT. 24, 2()(X) 833
(c) seize any timber in respect of which the offence was committed, any books of account or other documents relating to such timber and may also detain and seize any animal, vessel or vehicle with which the offence was committed.
(2) Any officer referred to in sub-section (I) may stop and detain any person committing an offence under this Act or abetting in the commission of such offence and such officer may arrest without warrent any such person :
Searches and arrest how to be made.
Production of persons arrested and things seized.
Report of arrest and seizure.
Erection of Check Posts.
Provided that the officer making such arrest may release any such person if he furnishes his name and address and otherwise satisfies such officer that he will duly answer any summons or other proceedings which may be taken against him.
10. All searches and arrests under this Act shall be conducted and made in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Code of Criminal procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974).
11. Every person detained or arrested under any of the provisions of this Act, shall be taken by the officer referred to in Section 9 and produce before the nearest Magistrate having jurisdiction alongwith a report containing full particulars of the person arrested or articles seized and the circumstances under which the arrest or seizure was effected, within twentyfour hours of such arrest or seizure, excluding of the time necessary for the actual journey from the place of arrest to the Court of the Magistrate.
12. Any Forest Officer or Police Officer making an arrest or seizure under this Act shall forthwith make a full report of all particulars of such arrest or seizure to his immediate superior officer.