Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 29: The sleuths of Excise Department thwarted yet another attempt of smuggling of forest produce to outside the State.
A vehicle bearing registration No.PB02BN-9555 from Srinagar destined to Batala Punjab, reported at Toll Post Lakhanpur for assessment of the goods and as per the documents produced, the vehicle was shown loaded with Carbon (Black). However, during physical check of the said vehicle, 31 bags of forest produce comprising 22 bags (625 kgs) of Koad-Kutki (Piccrorhiza Kurroa), 9 bags (343 kgs) of Muskbala (Valeriana sp.) and 1 packet (2 kg) of Jangli Lahsun were detected. The evaders adopted the unique methodology by concealing the precious forest products beneath the bags of carbon.
The goods were consigned by M/s Elite Industries, Industrial Estate Chotipura Handwara Kashmir to M/s Kuldip Rai Marwaha Brothers, Adda Sugar Mills, Batala, Punjab. The team of the Excise Department that performed the operation comprised of Excise & Taxation Officers Sh. Varinder Singh Billoria, Sh. Girdhari Lal and Shamsuduha, Inspectors Gopal Kumar, Adarsh Sharma and Arun Kumar, Sub-Inspectors Hankar Singh and Excise Guards Anil Sharma, Ajay Kumar and Mohd Aslam. The team was duly assisted by the team of forest department at Lakhanpur headed by Munish Gupta, Range Officer, who identified the items as rare & threatened species.
Mr Rajesh Sharma, Deputy Excise Commissioner lauded the role of staff of Toll Post Lakhanpur in making the instant detection. He further exhorted them to work with more zeal and vigour to nab the evaders.
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