Major Crackdown on Timber Mafia in Doda, Huge Cache of Illicit Timber Seized

Doda, Sep 10 : In a major crackdown against illegal timber smuggling, the Forest Protection Force raided the interior Jangalwar forest in Chirala Range of Bhaderwah and recovered a huge cache of illegally extracted timber.Officials told GNS that during the operation, more than 100 finished timber scants, dozens of deodar and green kail sleepers, five green deodar trees and two kail trees that were illegally felled were seized. Six labourers were also detained along with equipment used for illicit felling.Preliminary investigation suggests that illegal felling of green cedar was being carried out under the cover of sanctioned fallen and dry trees.Further investigation into the matter has been initiated.(GNS)