Excelsior Correspondent
DODA, Mar 29: A Forest Guard and Forester were placed under suspension while action against Range Officer was recommended after massive green felling of Deodar trees was traced in compartment No. 84 of Bhalessa Range, bordering Himachal of Bhaderwah Forest Division.
A team led by DFO Bhaderwah, T B Singh, along with FPF men acting on some inputs reached the area and found massive green felling. The Forest team also sought police assistance from Gandoh and recovered 143 scants of Deodar of different size which had been hidden in the Dhoks by some smugglers.
CCF Jammu Asif Mehmood when contacted claimed that DFO Bhaderwah and Dy Director FPF have been directed to hold inquiry and submit a report. Pending inquiry, the Forest Guard Manzoor Ahmed, a local of the area and Forester Ghulam Mustafa (also local), have been placed under suspension by the DFO. The CCF said that Conservator of Forests, Chenab Circle, Mahesh Dogra is supervising operation. The team was still there in the area. Due to rain and snowfall, the work has been suspended there.
Mr Dogra said that DFO Bhaderwah has recommended action against Range Officer Azad Hussain. The Forest team was there in Bhalessa Forest Range. The area lies closer to J&K-Himachal border, at the ridge visible from Gandoh town. It is 4 to 5 hour on foot. Some people who go there during summer had fallen green trees and scants had been dumped in the Dhoks. They had been transporting the timbers slowly from that area.
On the information provided by some locals this operation was carried out by the team. He said three persons have been handed over to police in this connection. He did not rule out the involvement of local field staff and said as per law action is being initiated against them.
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