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| Police driver arrested for smuggling timber | | Forest minister suspends four, orders probe | | Srinagar/Jammu | Jan 27
Forest Minister Qazi Muhammad Afzal today ordered suspension of four employees including a forester following the arrest of a police driver from whom smuggled timber worth lakhs was recovered in Ganderbal area, here late last night.
Official sources said that residents of Aarhama, Ganderbal had approached forest minister Qazi Muhammad Afzal alleging that a police driver was smuggling timber from the area in connivance with some forest officials.
Based on the complaint, a special team of Forest Protection Force (FPF) officials was constituted which intercepted a White police gypsy late last night in the area. During the checking the gypsy was found to be carrying smuggled timber, sources told News Agency of Kashmir.
The accused driver Zahoor Ahmed Wani was arrested on the spot and the vehicle along with the timber was also seized. A case under section 379 RPC and 8 of Forest Act was registered against him. The villagers of the area did not hand over the vehicle to police apprehending they may hush up the case.
Meanwhile, Joint Director Forest Protection Force, Kashmir reached the spot along with additional reinforcement of FPF squad and took the possession of the vehicle after handing over the driver to Ganderbal Police, sources added.
Joint Director FPF Kashmir, Liaqat Ali Dar when contacted told News Agency of Kashmir that the driver was alleged to have smuggled huge timber from the area. “We were following him in the area”, he said adding, “the arrest was made possible due to the cooperation of the local residents”. He said that his department would not spare any one involved in destruction of green treasure of the state.
Following the recovery of the timber, forest minister Qazi Muhammad Afzal ordered suspension of four forest employees including the Forester of the area. Those who have been placed under suspension were Ajaz Ahmed, Forester, Ghulam Ahmed, Forest Guard, Muhammad Ismail Khatana, Forest Guard and Ghulam Nabi Najar, Helper. The minister has also ordered probe in the matter.
Meanwhile, A Protection force team led by Dy.Director Baramulla, under direct supervision of Forest minister seized green measuring 135 sft from the compartment No 85 from north Lolab, Sources said adding that a green deodar was also seized from the house of one villager in Ladhu area of Rafiabad. The operation was in progress till last reports came in.
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