Illicit timber recovered in Uri, 2 arrested

Baramulla, Feb 23: Baramulla Police on Thursday arrested two individuals for their alleged involvement in cutting down illicit forest timber and selling it at higher rates.
A police official said that the arrests were made in Zamboor Pattan Uri, under the supervision of Showkat Ali-JKPS, SDPO Uri, and with the assistance of Inspector Imtiyaz Ahmad, SHO Police Station Uri.
Police identified the two accused individuals as Mumtaz Hussain, son of Khaki Shah and resident of Zamboor Pattan Uri, and Syed Abbas Hussain, son of Syed Muzaffar Hussain and resident of Choolan Uri.
Police said that it recovered about 18 cubic feet of illicit forest timber from their possession during the raid.
“A case has been registered against the accused under sections of the Indian Forest Act at the Uri Police Station, and the investigation is underway,” a police official said.
Locals said that the illegal timber smuggling have been significant issues in the region, leading to severe deforestation and damage to the environment.