Illicit timber recovered by Forest Department in Sopore

Sopore, Mar 23: In its efforts against illegal timber smuggling, the Forest Department seized illicit forest timber in Harwan area of Sopore in north Kashmir's Baramulla district during the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday.

Range officer Kandi range Sopore, Rayees Ahmad Bhat said that acting on a specific information about timber smuggling in the area, employees of forest department along with forest protection force established a naka at hilltop tracking route in Harwan area and intercepted a Tata Mobile vehicle bearing registration number JKO5L -7408.

During the search of the vehicle, 30.67 cft of illicit forest kail timber loaded on it were recovered but the driver of the vehicle managed to escape from the spot.

However, his associate was arrested and  later handed over to police. Meanwhile, the Range Officer has appealed to the general public to share information with police or forest department against persons who indulge in forest smuggling or any other illegal activities.