Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Sept 4: Exposing nexus of some Forest officials and timbers smugglers, the Forest Protection Force (FPF) team organised a raid and seized 122 Deodar sleepers from Sangroon Forest area of Bani Forest Range under Billawar Forest Division today.
Official sources said that FPF officials received information about the green felling of Deodar trees in Compartment No. 9 of Bani Range. It was communicated that some green trees were felled in the area falling under Sangroon Beat of Bani Forest Block and many timber logs were lying at various points in the forest.
Based on this information, the team led by Dy Director Forest Protection Force, Gamma Unit J-4 Billawar, Bhgawan Singh Slathia organised an operation, with the assistance of staff at Bani Forest reporting centre and seized 122 timber sleepers. These sleepers had been scattered at different places in Sangroon beat.
During the spot verification, it was noticed that four Deodar stumps were also found which were marked with hammer. The case was registered at Forest Range Office Bani vide No. 23 of 2015 dated 4-9-2015, in this connection.
Range Officer Bani, Tara Chand when contacted claimed that most of the trees were dry and fallen and there was no such green felling as claimed by FPF staff. He said it was joint operation and he has seized the entire timber measuring nearly 352 cft. Shielding his own men, the RO said some locals had felled those trees in the forest and two local persons have been booked. When asked what action he has taken against his own concerned staff including Block Forester, the Range officer said that an inquiry has been initiated in this connection.
DFO Billawar, Satpal Pakhru when contacted said that it was joint operation and departmental inquiry has been ordered in this connection. He said such a massive felling is not possible without the knowledge of concerned block staff. He said that action will be taken against the officials concerned if found guilty.
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