Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Aug 23:Amid unrest, the smuggling of timber is continuing in several forest areas of Kashmir valley and in a latest instance police seized around 900 feet of illicit timber from South Kashmir’s Kulgam district.
A senior police officer said that after receiving specific information, the police conducted a raid at Angraizpatri forest area of Damhal Hanjipora in Kulgam district and seized large quantity of illicit timber.
“We seized approximately 900 feet of illicit timber that was smuggled from compartment number 16 before being dumped at Angraizpatri,” said the officer, adding that three persons have been arrested in this connection by police.
He said that a case under FIR number 117/2016 under Sections 379, 120B 6 Forest Act RPC has been registered and further investigation has been started. “Some people while taking undue advantage of ongoing turmoil are resorting to forest smuggling. We have started a campaign against them,” he added.
The locals at Angraizpathri and Damhal Hanjipora alleged that the Forest Department officials are not taking any action against the smugglers and some of them are even in league with these timber smugglers. “If we approach them with the complaints of smuggling, they hardly respond,” the locals added.
The smuggling has been reported in Kath-hallan woods, Yarwan woods and Khrew woods of South Kashmir’s Shopian and Pulwama districts where scores of trees have been cut by timber smugglers.
Due to the ongoing unrest the police and forest guards aren’t guarding forests and the smugglers are continuing unabated loot of the forests. An official when contacted said: “We cannot do anything as of now as the situation is extremely critical and everything has come to standstill.”
The reports of timber smuggling are pouring in from several forest areas of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district including Rajwar, Ramhal, Nutnusa, Check and Kandi.
Timber smuggling has also been reported from Khan Sahib, Pakherpora, Khag, Arizal forest areas of Budgam district. Residents in these areas said that timber is being transported in trucks and tippers during the night and Police and forest officials are silently watching the loot.
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