Timber seized in forest range Kokernag, Forester among 4 officials

Anantnag: The Government has suspended four forest officials including a forester of Kokernag forest range after seizing illegally smuggled timber from timber smugglers in Soof Block.
Official sources told Kashmir Horizon “ Divisional Forest Officer Anantnag Feroz Ahmed Chakat and Deputy Director Forest Protection Force Anantnag on receiving credible inputs seized 90 cfts of timber from the kothas of Muhammad Shafi Bamla and Ashraf Bamla in compartment No. 120 k of Soof block of Forest Range Kokranag”. Stating that following the instructions of both the officers the range Officers of Control Room Anantnag and A D forests jointly raided the said kothas and seized 95 cubic feet of timber from their possession on the spot, the sources said “further investigation are underway:.
Meanwhile, a large quantity of timber smuggled from the forests to a band mill in Kokranag Forest Range was seized by the department officials besides timber seized from 74 v and 75 v compartments. Taking a strong note of the recovery of the illicit timber DFO Anantnag has placed under suspension four concerned personnel including Forester of Block Kokranag for non-performance and negligence of forest protection .Confirming these incidents Divisional Forest Officer Anantnag said that the guilty do not deserve any concession or amnesty, adding that they won’t spare people showing lapses in the protection of the forests in all cases.