Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Nov 19: Forest and FPF team assisted by local police in a joint operation foiled a major attempt of some land grabbers to encroach upon Forest land in Keran (Ban Talab) area and seized two JCBs and a Tripper here this evening.
Sources said some land mafia men had engaged two JCBs and some tippers and tractor trolleys to clear nearly 100 kanals of area in Compartment No. 4 P of Jammu Forest Range at Pattian village near Keran. This work was going on mostly during late evening and during night. Some green trees had already been felled by them and now they were busy in leveling of land by using machines (JCBs). The tippers were being used to lift the `malwa’.
As the villagers were watching this activity for the last over one week, they informed DFO Jammu Dr V Sinthal Kumar. Accordingly, the Forest team led by ACF Zoab Choudhary and Range officer B S Sanyal and assisted by Forest Protection Force and police rushed to the area this evening and launched operation under the direct supervision of DFO Jammu. While some of the land grabbers managed to escape two drivers were nabbed by the Forest and police team. The two JCBs and a tipper were also seized. It was later known that JCBs belonged to one Prabhu Shah.
DFO Jammu when contacted said that they had cleared nearly 25 kanals of Forest land and were in the process of grabbing more in Forest Compartment No. 4P of Jammu Forest Range. He said two drivers were taken into custody. They have revealed some facts and the names of few persons. The machines and tipper have been confiscated. A case stood registered in this connection. He said that names of land grabbers will be cleared by tomorrow. The investigation/ inquiry has been initiated and RO will submit report by tomorrow. He claimed that major attempt to grab Forest land at Keran has been foiled with the timely action of the Forest team.
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