Suhail Rather Bandipora, 11 Jan: The officials of Forest Protection Department on Tuesday seized illegally smuggled timber in Ashtingoo village of Bandipora district.
An official said a team of officials lead by Range officer Mushtaq Ahmad Sofi seized 30-CFT timber after receiving specific inputs of cutting of trees in forest compartment No 09 Khuihama in upper belt of Ashtingoo forest block in Bandipora in wee hours.
Earlier locals alleged that the loot of green gold is rampant in Aloosa, Ashtangoo Bandipora Forest division. They claimed that the higher ups in forest department have failed to act against the erring looters involved in chopping down green trees.
"The manual hand-saw machines have been installed in Aloosa forests where trees are cut according to various size specifications before being transported to other areas of the district," a local alleged.
Range officer promised to look into the matter. "If anything wrong is going on it will be taken care off".
