Sopore, March 23 : one motorcyclist escorting the timber laden Tata mobile arrested, Formal case registered in Police station Bomai under FIR No.17/2025 against two smugglers. Locals hail the efforts of forest and FPF officials*

SOPORE: Forest department alongwith FPF Staff has seized a Tata mobile carrying illicit timber and arrested one smuggler at Harwan HillTop Trekking Route Kandi Sopore in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district during the intervening night of 22-23 March 2025.

RO Kandi Sopore Rayees Ahmad Tantary said that the forest department and FPF have jointly seized a Tata mobile vehicle and one motorcycle at Hill top Trecking route in Kandi range Sopore which were ferrying with illicit timber from upper area to Payeen area.

“Acting on specific inputs’ RO Kandi along with FPF officials, BO Concerned and best staff laid down a successful nakka at HillTop Trekking Route*Harwan Sopore and seized one Tata Mobile vehicle bearing Regn. No*JK05L 7408 laden with illicit timber Kail sawn 42 Nos measuring 30.67cft One motorcyclist namely Mohd Sultan Sheikh R/o Tujarsharief who was escorting the illegal transportation of timber stocks was apprehended on the spot.

The officials said that cases have been registered and further investigation is going on in this regard.

Special investigation team (SIT) has been constituted for its detailed investigation.

Range Officer Rayees Ahmad Tantary further said that such operations will continue and not even a single smuggler will be spared and all the necessary actions as warranted under the forest act would be taken strictly against such persons whosoever will be responsible for any type of damage to the forests.

Meanwhile, people from across sections of society have hailed the efforts of the forest department and FPF. for curbing the unabated forest loot.