In a recent development, the Divisional Forest Officer of Bhaderwah, Chander Sheikher, announced that notorious timber smuggler Ashiq Hussain, also known as Panga, has been booked under the Public Safety Act (PSA). This is a laudable step by the Forest Department in its ongoing fight against illegal timber trading in the region. This is the second PSA against a timber smuggler in Jammu province after Chiralla Range.
While the Forest Department’s actions against timber smugglers are laudable, The Chenab Times has received numerous reports of corruption among forest department employees, with some allegedly providing inside information and protection to smugglers. Addressing these allegations is crucial to the department’s effectiveness in curbing illegal activities in the region.
As reported earlier by The Chenab Times, this is the second instance of the Public Safety Act (PSA) being applied to a timber smuggler in Jammu province. The first PSA against a timber smuggler was lodged against an individual from the Phagsoo Thathri area of the Chiralla Forest Range in the Forest Division of Bhaderwah. The application of the PSA in both cases is a significant development in the fight against illegal timber trading in the region.
Despite these challenges, the PSA has proven to be an effective tool in the fight against timber smuggling. Initially introduced in 1978 to curb timber smuggling, the PSA has since been expanded to include other criminal activities. This latest booking of a timber smuggler under the PSA is only the second instance in Jammu province, making it a significant milestone in the fight against illegal timber trading.
Illegal timber trading has had disastrous consequences for the environment, and the arrest of Panga, a notorious timber smuggler, is a significant step towards curbing this illegal activity. His arrest sends a strong message to other smugglers operating in the region and, hopefully, serves as a warning to those who engage in such nefarious activities.
Raja Shakeel of The Chenab Times has contributed to this report.
Anzer Ayoob is the Founder and Chief Editor to The Chenab Times