Jammu: Timber peddling attempt foiled by police
Officials of Forest Division Bhaderwah in Chenab Circle here today foiled a major timber smuggling attempt and seized three vehicles including two private cars carrying the finished scants of Deodar.
According to reports, despite strong contingent of Territorial Forest Officials and sleuths of FPF, the smugglers managed to escape leaving behind their vehicles but the Forest Officer claimed to have identified the kingpin who runs timber depot and saw mill in Bhaderwah town.
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Range Officer, Neeru Abdul Rasheed received a specific information that a vehicle bearing registration number JK06-5645 was carrying illegal timber and was heading towards Chinta valley of Bhaderwah.
The team headed by Range Officer under the supervision of DFO Chander Shekhar laid a trap for the load carrier and also intercepted 2 cars bearing registration numbers JK02L-8332 and PB35H- 3362 laden with illegal timber.
Drivers of all the three vehicles fled on seeing the team of Forest Department leaving the vehicles on road. The team of officials seized the vehicles along with the illicit timber.
The Range Officer said: “Two FIRs have been simultaneously lodged at Bhaderwah Police Station and one at Divisional Forest Office in this regard.”
“Forty two banned Deodar scants measuring 149 cft worth lakhs were seized and the kingpin Haris Bagwan who fled from the crime scene with his two accomplices has been identified,” the Officer maintained adding that involvement of some forest official and SFC (State Forest Corporation) officials also cannot be ruled out as the vehicle carrying timber was of SFC.
A senior officer of SFC at Bhaderwah claimed that 5 officials of the department were posted at the place on Jaie road from where the timber was stolen.
