70 timber smugglers arrested in north Kashmir

Srinagar, Jan 23 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir police today said they have arrested 70 smugglers from Handwara area during the past nine months and seized timber worth Rs 40 lakh from them.

Superintendent of Police (SP), Handwara, Dr Haseeb Mughal said a total of 26 cases have been registered and about 70 people arrested for timber smuggling.

He said 17 cases were registered in the Handwara police station alone while 50 smugglers arrested and 1500 cft of timber seized from them.

Similarly, three cases were registered and 582 cft of timber seized in Kralgund while six cases registered and 218 cft of timber recovered in Vilgam, he added.

Dr Mughal said police have provided full assistance to the forest department in arresting the timber smugglers.

Due to the efforts, two of the accused were being booked under the Public Safety Act, he added.

UNI