Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, June 25: The Forest officials at Forest Check Post, Lakhanpur have seized Minor Forest Produce (MFP) items from a truck bearing Registration Number, JK 05A-8533 which was on way from Kupwara in Kashmir Valley to Delhi.
The MFP items seized from the truck included Trillium Govananium (Nagchattri) 18 boxes weighing 118 kgs, Morchella Esculenta (Guchhi) two boxes weighing 12 kgs and Wild Garlic (Jungli Lasson) two boxes weighing 23 kgs.
Besides, the vehicle was carrying 846 walnut boxes /bags and they were used as a tool to smuggling of the MFP items in a concealed and camouflaged manner to outside the State. This was stated by Ashwani Kumar, Divisional Forest Officer Kathua Forest Division here, today.
He said that the Forest officials of Forest Check Post Lakhanpur led by the Range Officer Lakhanpur , Pankaj Khajuria on a tip off laid a naka near LCP during late last night and stopped a vehicle for checking on the basis of suspicion.
The driver of the vehicle Latif Ahmed from Kupwara, Kashmir and the cleaner of the vehicle Akhtar Ali Khan also from Kupwara failed to produce documents meant for the transportation of the items to Delhi. The receipt pertaining to walnut boxes was only available with them, he added.
He said the vehicle was confiscated by the officials and this morning the laborers were deployed for unloading it in presence of officials and private witnesses and the drive and cleaner as well and the smuggling items were recovered from it.
In this regard a case under the various sections of the J&K Forest Act of 1987 has been registered and the confiscation proceedings in the court of AO (Divisional Forest Officer Kathua was initiated.
The detailed investigation in the case will also be carried out to locate the source and modus operandi followed, Ashwani Kumar, added.
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