Handwara: Fresh instances of illegal timber smuggling have surfaced from the Mawer Forest Range in north Kashmir’s Handwara town, where deodar trees were allegedly cut down during night hours and later set ablaze to erase evidence, triggering outrage among locals and environmental concerns.
Local sources told the news agency Kashmir News Trust that the incident occurred in the Boti Nar Gundkamal Gundchubutra area of Mawer Forest Range-1 under Langate Forest Division. Smugglers reportedly targeted mature deodar trees under the cover of darkness, felling them quietly before attempting to destroy proof of the crime by setting the remaining stumps on fire.
Locals said that the freshly cut deodar stumps with burn marks and smoke indicate a deliberate attempt to conceal illegal activity. Forest dwellers and villagers who noticed the damage expressed shock over the brazenness of timber smugglers and alleged lax enforcement in sensitive forest zones.
Locals said the repeated incidents of forest plunder are threatening the ecological balance of the area and demanded immediate action against those involved. They also called for fixing responsibility within the Forest Department, alleging that such large-scale felling cannot take place without lapses in monitoring.
When contacted for comment, the Divisional Forest Officer confirmed the incident saying a team has been deployed to look into the matter.
Locals have appealed to the Forest Department and district administration to conduct a thorough investigation, strengthen night patrolling, and ensure strict action against smugglers and any officials found negligent, to prevent further damage to the region’s forest wealth. [KNT]
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