Trees found chopped, case against 5 people

Mirzapur, Jun 20 (UNI) An FIR has been registered against five people, including forest officials and mafia, for chopping over 20 trees here.

Providing information, a Task Force Team-led by Additional Commissioner D R Tripathi today said, ''A raid was conducted at village Banjari in Dramandganj range yesterday, where nearby 25 trees were found to have been cut.'' Of them, 12 trees were costly Acacia catechu (katha), which is most commonly used inside betel leaf as paan. Katha was presently carrying a market value of Rs 1,000 per kg.

Seeing seriousness of the crime, a case was registered against -- range officer Amritlal, forest constable Phool Singh, guard Dalpratap Singh and mafia Pushpraj Singh and Pawan Singh -- under Indian Forest Act, Mr Tripathi said.

The accused were still at large, he said.

Investigations were on he added.

UNI XC-JAS AM RK1502