Ganderbal: In a fresh action against forest smuggling, Ganderbal Police have seized a large quantity of illegal timber from the Kals Pati area of Rayil Gund, officials said on Sunday.
Acting on specific inputs, the operation was carried out under the supervision of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ganderbal, Khalil Ahmad Poswal. A police team led by the Station House Officer (SHO) of Police Station Gund Rayees Ahmad conducted a raid in compartment number 41 during which 50 cubic feet of illegally felled timber was recovered and taken into custody.
According to police sources, the timber had reportedly been smuggled from nearby forest areas in violation of forest protection laws. The swift action, they said, was part of the ongoing drive to curb illegal logging and safeguard forest resources in the district.
“The operation was conducted following reliable information about timber being stored unlawfully in the area. We have seized around 50 cubic feet of timber and initiated further proceedings,” an official from Ganderbal Police told the news agency Kashmir News Trust.
SSP Ganderbal Khalil Ahmad Poswal has directed all police units and forest officials to intensify surveillance across forest belts and take strict action against those involved in timber smuggling. He reiterated that protecting green wealth is a top priority for the administration and that such illegal activities would not be tolerated.
Meanwhile, locals in the area have appreciated the timely action of the police, saying illegal timber trade has long posed a threat to the ecological balance and natural beauty of the region. (KNT)
