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| Smugglers attack forest team in Anantnag, 4 injured | | | Early Times Report
Anantnag, May 23: At least four forest employees received injuries after a group of smugglers attacked them in Kuthar area of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district on Saturday early morning.
According to reports, Forest night patrolling party laid a nakka near Dethoo village of Kokernag after receiving input the smuggling of illicit timber. “On intercepting a group of smugglers carrying illicit timber on their shoulders, the forest team asked them to stop but in return they attack the team sharp weapons and injured them,” Divisonal Forest Officer Anantnag Feroz Ahmad Chatak told Early Times.
He however said that the ‘vigilant’ forest team chased smugglers and managed to seize the illicit timer on spot. “13Cfts of illicit timber was seized on the spot,” he said, adding that the smugglers however managed to escape from the spot taking advantage of darkness.
DFO said that the incident, in which the smugglers damaged the vehicle of forest team, took place at around 2:12am on Saturday.
He said that the eleven (11) smugglers involved in timber smuggling and attacking the forest team have been identified and action as per law against them was being initiated.
Syed Farooq Ahmad Gillani, (IFS) Chief Conservator of Forests, Kashmir also visited Anantnag and condemned the attack on forest employees.
“An assault on Forest Officials had taken place in Kuthar Range of Anantnag Forest Division. I the visited Kuthar Range where the incident had taken place and enquired about the health conditions of the officials who had got injured in the assault,” he told media in Anantnag.
He said that the culprits involved in the attack have been identified and cases are being prepared for presenting before the concerned authorities for taking action under law. “In Shopian Forest Division, there had been an attack on a Forest official posted as Block Forester Mathwani Block few days back,” he said while condemning such attacks on Forest officials.
He admitted that there had been reports of some damages to forests during the current lockdown period, however said that illicit timber was seized by the employees.
In order to monitor the measures taken to curb such activities, a detailed review meeting was held with the Officers at Khanabal Anantnag. The meeting was attended by the Conservator of Forests Kashmir South Circle and Divisional Forest Officers. The officers present in the meeting were advised to further gear up the activities related to forest protection and timber smugglers / other elements who are indulging in the forest damages were strongly warned that strict action as provided under law will be taken against such elements.
Tawheed Ahmad Deva, IFS CF South Circle informed the CCForests Kashmir that due cognizance of the reports of forest damages which had come in the media has been taken and wherever any such thing has been found, the action taken been taken.
Chief Conservator of Forests Kashmir held that there will be no laxity on the protection front and on the whole, the Department is united to combat the evil designs of the smugglers and other elements during the current sensitive situation arisen due to pandemic of COVID-19. It was held that no anti social element will be allowed to take refuge of pandemic by causing damages to forests.
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