Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 13: The Forest team from Bhaderwah Forest Division of district Doda in two operations seized 216 scants of Deodar and Kail species of different size from Chirala Range today.
Official sources told the Excelsior that acting on a specific inputs provided by a villager, a Forest team led by DFO Bhaderwah T B Singh assisted by in-charge Forest Control Room, Bhaderwah Haroon Khan and some staff members organised an operation and recovered 163 scants of Deodar and Kail species of different size which were dumped at various places in Compartment No. 7 and 8 of Chirala Range near Tanta village in Bhderwah division.
The timbers scants (452 cft) appeared to be dumped and hidden by the smugglers in the Forest area with the possible connivance of some insiders for long time and were waiting for the opportunity to smuggle out from the area.
The team during operation also recovered 53 timber scants of different size (72 cft) from the shed of one Mohd Iqbal, son of Hashim Din, at Tanta village in Chirala. The accused person managed to escape before the raiding party reached there. He has been booked by the Forest department.
The DFO said that inquiry is being initiated to examine the role of the local field staff of the Forest department regarding recovery of this timber from compartment No. 7 and 8. Their involvement can not be ruled. Action will be taken against them if they were found involved.
Meanwhile Forest team during another operation on Saturday removed encroachment on 53 kanals of Forest land in Compartment No. 85 of Bhalesa Range of Bhaderwah Forest division. A structure ( Kotha) was also demolished from Compartment No. 3 of Jangalwar area in Chirala Range by the team.
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