People stage protest against Forest Deptt

Excelsior Correspondent
SUNDERBANI, Feb 7: Bakkerwal community members held protest against Forest Department in Sunderbani tehsil of district Rajouri today.
Official sources said that about a score members of Bakkarwal community arrived near Police Station Sunderbani today and started protest against Range Officer and DFO Nowshera. One Irshad Ahmed was leading the protest. The other members included Mohd Sharif, Mohd Hanif, Mohd Fareed, Altaf Ahmed and others.
They hold peacefully protest against Forest Range Officer (FRO) Sunderbani and Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Nowshera. They alleged that two persons Mehmood Kadir Chowdary, son of Faqir Mohammad, resident of Parat Dharoon, Zahoor Ahmed, son of Mishri Khan, resident of Rugga, who came from Mendhar areas two or three years ago, encroached Forest land more than 25 kanal. They said now they encroached old passages and made fields for cultivation.
They said many times their deputation met with Forest Range Officer Sunderbani and DFO Nowshera for this issue but they never bothered. The Department has failed to take action regarding encroachment in Qila Darhal Compartment number 86/1. The land mafia is lulling the roost.
They claimed that if Forest staff failed to take action, they will block Jammu- Poonch highway within one week.