Doda, September 9: The Forest Protection Force (FPF) has seized hundreds of illegally extracted deodar and green kail timber sleepers during a raid in the Bhaderwah forest division of Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district, while six labourers allegedly involved in extracting the timber were detained, officials said on Wednesday.
The raid was conducted in the early hours following intelligence inputs about large-scale illegal felling in the forested hinterland, with officials suspecting that the timber was being prepared for smuggling.
Divisional Forest Officer, Bhaderwah, Devinder Kumar, who also holds the charge of Deputy Director, FPF, Doda, said the seized timber included more than 100 finished scants, besides a large number of sleepers. The exact quantity was still being assessed.
“Following credible intelligence about large-scale felling in the deep hinterland for smuggling purposes, sleuths of the Forest Protection Force (FPF) conducted an early morning raid and seized a huge dump of deodar and green kail sleepers,” Kumar said.
He said the timber had allegedly been extracted illegally, concealed at the site and was likely to be transported for illegal trade.
“Six labourers who were found extracting timber have been detained along with the equipment recovered from the spot,” the officer said.
Kumar said the investigation was underway to identify those allegedly behind the illegal extraction from protected forest areas, in violation of forest laws and Supreme Court directions.
“The large quantity seized suggests that the timber may have been intended for illegal trade in the market,” he said.
According to the officer, statements recorded from the detained labourers have also indicated the alleged involvement of two retired Education Department lecturers from Thathri tehsil.
“Their role is being further investigated, as more recoveries are expected from the area,” Kumar said.
He said the operation followed several days of surveillance and local intelligence gathering about illegal felling in the area.
An FPF official who was part of the raiding team said the recovered timber had been handed over to the local forest beat guard and would be transported to the nearest forest depot.
A formal case has been registered under relevant provisions of the Indian Forest Act, which deals with unauthorised felling, possession and trade of forest produce.
The FPF said further action would be taken against those found involved in the alleged timber extraction network, warning that illegal felling can contribute to soil erosion, habitat loss and increased vulnerability to landslides.
