Excelsior Correspondent
DODA, Mar 27: Gandoh police today seized 63 timber scants and six freshly cut trees worth several lakhs and arrested three green gold smugglers.
According to SSP Zahid Manhas, police team from Gandoh police station launched an operation against illegal loggers and to break the nexus between forest officials and green gold smugglers.
The police team seized 63 scants of green cedar trees beside 6 newly sawed down cedars at Village Kakothi in Bhalesa Range of Bhadarwah Forest division, he added.
“Police also apprehended two smugglers during the operation from village Kakothi from where the huge seizer was made. The accused have been identified as Duni Chand and Jaffer Hussain. The identity of third accused is yet to be identified”, SSP stated.
Timber was reportedly extracted from freshly cut green cedar trees in compartment no 85 near Himachal border in Bhalesa Range of Bhadarwah Forest division which clearly indicates the involvement of forest officials in this illegal activity, he stated.
A case under sections 379, 353 and 186 RPC was registered at Gandoh police station and investigation started. Some more arrest and seizer is expected as the operation is still going on and both the accused are being questioned about the involvement of some forest officials in large scale timber smuggling, Mr Manhas maintained.
Follow our WhatsApp channel