Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 5: Forest officials in central Kashmir’s Budgam district have seized illicit timber and two horses on Sunday evening and launched a hunt to nab the notorious timber smugglers who managed to escape taking advantage of the darkness.
A forest team led by forest official, Farooq Ahmad, laid a trap in the forest during midnight when the smugglers carrying timber (Green Deodar) on the horse backs trekked from the area.
“The smugglers refused to surrender when we challenged them. The team confronted them and seized dozens feet of timber and two horses,” Range Officer, Googaldara -II, in Gulabdeji Tangmarg, Feroz Ahmad said, adding one of the daily wager, Ghulam Mohammad Mir, working in Forest Department was injured during the scuffle.
He, however, said that the smugglers identified as Ghulam Mohi-ud-Din Reshi and Mohammad Ashraf Beigh managed to escape while taking advantage of the darkness.
“These two persons are the notorious smugglers and we have launched a man hunt to nab them as soon as possible, so that legal action would be taken against them,” Feroz said.
The forest officer said that the seized horses were sent to PC Depot, Srinagar and a case was registered under Forest Act FA-6/ case number 2.
The forest officials warned the smugglers that Public Safety Act (PSA) will be slapped against those involved in the illegal timber trade.
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