Timber smuggler arrested, FIR lodged
A team led by Range Officer, Raithan apprehended timber smugglers, who were found ransacking the forest in the wee hours of May 10.
The timber smugglers had attacked forest official Ghulam Mohammad Shah and the Beat Guard Mohammad Altaf Raina. Meanwhile, two timber smugglers Hameed Bhat and Bilal Ahmad Khan, who are residents of Rayar-Beerwa area escaped from the spot on horse backs.
A third timber smuggler Abdul Rashid Khan, who also belongs to Rayar-Beerwa, while trying to escape from the spot fell from his horse and received minor injuries. He was arrested by the Forest Department officials and was handed over to the police authorities, sources said.
An FIR has been filed in the Khansahib police station against all the three smugglers. A horse and budloo timber was seized from the spot.
In the past eight months, Range Officer has seized two vehicles, 18 horses, 300 cfts of timber and 14 FIRs have been lodged against 41 timber smugglers.
KV Correspondent
