Police arrest timber smuggler in raid in Ganderbal forest

Ganderbal, March 06: Police on Monday said it arrested a smuggler along with illicit timber in north Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.
the upper reaches of Gund in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.
An official said that on the directions of SSP Ganderbal Nikhil Borkar, a police team from Police Station Gund acted swiftly on a tip-off from reliable sources about timber smuggling,
The police party led by SHO Police Station Gund Arshid Salfee under the supervision of SDPO Kangan Muzaffar Jan raided the upper reaches of forest cover at Compartment No. 36 Sindh Range Kangan and arrested a timber smuggler, he said, adding that the illicit timber was recovered from him.
The accused person had cut down forest trees and kept them hidden in the forest compartment, the official said. “It also came to the fore that the accused had the intention of selling the illicit timber in the form of finished logs,” he added.
Police said the illicit timber was seized and the accused, who disclosed his identity as Muneer Ahmed Bijran, S/o Dilpazeer Bijran, R/o. Hilpati Gund was arrested.
In this regard, a case FIR No.08/2023 under relevant sections of law was registered at Police Station Gund and further investigation has been taken up, the official said, adding, “Ganderbal Police is committed to continuing its strict action against timber smugglers so that the green gold can be saved from being plundered.”
He said the people of the area hailed such action and reaffirmed their faith in the police.