Excelsior Correspondent
BHADERWAH, May 4: To curb the increasing menace regarding smuggling of green timber especially during COVID-19 spike, the sleuths of Forest Division (FD) Bhadarwah along with Forest Protection Force (FPF) foiled a bid of smuggling by seizing timber worth lakhs of rupees, extracted from Chiralla range of Bhadarwah Forest Division, at Laachan Chinchora area of Bhadarwah here.
According to reports, taking strong notice of an information regarding smuggling of illicit timber in Forest Division Bhadarwah, a team of FD Bhadarwah led by Range Officer (RO) Neeru Range Shafqat Khakhan Malik under the supervision of DFO Bhadarwah Chander Shekhar carried out an operation along with FPF and seized 92 scants/kandails.
It is notable that DFO Bhadarwah Chander Shekhar has constituted several teams to keep check on the smuggling of green gold from the area especially during COVID-19 spike.
RO Neeru Range Shafqat Khakhan Malik said, “We received an information regarding smuggling of green gold, my team along FPF immediately rushed to the compartment number 4 of Neeru Range and seized 92 scants/kandails approximately 150 CFT, which was extracted from Compartment Number 31 in Jaie block of Chiralla range”.
“To strictly check the menace of timber smuggling nexus, Forest Department and Forest Protection Force officials have deeply involved public in forest protection and its conservation”, said RO Neeru Range, Shafqat Khakhan Malik.
The illicit timber has been seized and a case has been registered in relevant forest sections to initiate necessary action under rule, Malik said, adding that every efforts are going on to nab the smugglers as this is first of its kind inter-range smuggling.
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