3 smugglers arrested, case against forest officials in Kashmir

Srinagar, July 19 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir police arrested three smugglers and seized illegal timber while State Vigilance Organisation (SVO) registered a case against forest officials and Proprietor of a joinery mill.

A police spokesman said in its continued drive a gainst the menace of Timber smuggling, Rajpora Police seized ten timber laden horses and arrested three timber smugglers during a raid in village Kassipora Rajpora in district Pulwama.

A SVO spokesman said the forest officials of forest range Rajwar, and a proprietor of a joinery mill were responsible for carrying out illegal felling of green Deodar, Kail, Fir trees in the compartments of forest range Rajwar and smuggling the illegal timber on fake and forged documents.

He said those registered under the case included Mohammad Rafiq, the then Range Officer, Ghulam Mohi-u-Din Bhat and Farooq Ahmad Lone, Depot Foresters of Handwara town, proprietor of sale depot under the name and style of M/S Three Star Enterprises and owner of an illegal trolley cum Band saw, Ghulam Rasool Wani who in connivance with one another carried out illegal felling of green deodar, kail, fir trees in various compartments of forest range Rajwar.

He said the SVO detected 3777 cfts of unauthorized and illegally smuggled timber valued at Rs 54 lakh.

UNI