Bhadarwah – Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district have detained two alleged timber smugglers under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) and removed two senior forest officials as part of a crackdown on illegal logging, officials said on Friday.
The action follows a media report in November detailing the illegal felling of more than 100 conifer trees in the Tanta Block of the Chirala range within the Bhaderwah forest division. Subsequent investigations confirmed large-scale deforestation, prompting authorities to take punitive measures, according to Sandeep Kumar, Conservator of Forests for the Chenab Circle.
“Two habitual offenders have been booked under the Public Safety Act. They were detained last night and lodged in jail,” Kumar said.
The suspects, identified as Hashim Din Magray from Kuthal village and Bilal Ahmed Wani from Wani Pura, have a history of multiple offenses under forest laws. Magray has been booked nine times, while Wani has faced charges on three occasions, including for alleged attacks on forest officials, he added.
The district magistrate of Doda invoked the PSA against them, signaling a tougher stance on illegal logging in the region. Kumar also warned that authorities are in the process of identifying other repeat offenders for similar action.
In a related development, the Bhaderwah divisional forest officer and the Chirala range officer were removed from their positions and reassigned to the office of the principal chief conservator of forests in Jammu. Officials did not specify whether they faced further disciplinary action.
Meanwhile, the National Green Tribunal has taken suo moto cognizance of the incident and issued notices to the principal chief conservator of forests, the Ministry of Environment and Forests, and the Doda district magistrate, seeking a detailed report on the matter.
(Inputs from Agencies)
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