Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, Nov 2: The sleuths of Excise Department thwarted yet another attempt of smuggling of forest produce outside the State. An official spokesman said a vehicle bearing registration No.JK03B-4777 from Srinagar destined for Delhi, reported at Toll Post Lakhanpur for assessment of the goods and as per the documents produced, the vehicle was shown loaded with Fresh Fruit viz Apple. However, during physical check of the vehicle was loaded with, 42 bags of forest produce comprising 16 bags (640 kgs) of Nag Chattri, 26 bags (850 kgs) of Kode/Pastish. The Tax evaders adopted the unique methodology by concealing the precious forest products beneath the boxes of fresh fruit (Apple).
The team of the Excise Department that performed the operation comprised of Excise & Taxation Officers, Varinder Singh Billoria, Joginder Singh Jasrotia and Farooq Choudhary, Inspectors Ishtiyaq Ahmad and Pankaj Sharma, Sub-Inspectors Bhagwan Dass, Raghunandan and Naseer Ahmad and Excise Guards Ashwani Kumar and Hardeep Singh. The team was duly assisted by the team of Forest Department headed by Munish Gupta, Range Officer, who identified the items as rare & threatened species.
Rajesh Sharma, Deputy Excise Commissioner lauded the role of staff of Toll Post Lakhanpur in making the instant detection when the traffic movement on the export side is at its peak due to the export of the fresh fruit. He further exhorted them to work with more zeal and vigour to nab the evaders.
Follow our WhatsApp channel