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Police crackdown on forest smugglers in Valley
HAROON RESHI | Srinagar, May 25, 2012 14:56
Tags : Kashmir | Trees | Deforestation |
Tags : Kashmir | Trees | Deforestation |
Police have launched a manhunt to nab a gang of jungle smugglers who attacked a team of forest officials and guards on Wednesday night, injuring at least 20 people including District Forest Officer (DFO) in Khagh area of Budgam district in central Kashmir.
“We are presently in the area on the mission to trace those (smugglers). We have cordoned off the forest and the criminals will be behind the bars soon,” Mohsin Qadri, a police official told TSI over phone.
“All the attackers have already been identified and a case has been registered against them,” the police official added.
The smugglers are active in different areas of Pir Panchal range in Budgam District for a long period and this is not for the first time smugglers have attacked the forest officials and the guards.
“We have faced such kind of attacks several times in the past but we are committed to our job and we will not allow these criminals to continue looting green gold,” said Himayoon Qadeer, the DFO, who received 14 stitches in his head after the Wednesday’s attack.
“The area is a breeding ground for the smugglers. A forest mafia is organised here and we are trying to weed them out,” he added.
The local residents say that since the Army has restricted the movement of common people in the Jungles after the militancy erupted in the Valley 22-years ago, the jungle has become a “no go” area for the commoners and smugglers have took advantage of this situation to loot the forests fearlessly.
“They have cut down thousands of trees so far and are continuously doing it, taking the advantage of having the area declared restricted for the common people. The militancy has paved free way to the smugglers as no common man dares to enter the forests so they roam fearlessly in the jungle,” Dr. Muzaffar Bhat, a well known social activist of Budgam tells TSI.
According to Bhatt, smugglers use some local people as collies for smuggling. The families of these collies live in pathetic conditions and this forces them to help criminals because this is the only way for them to earn money.
Issue Dated: Feb 5, 2017
