Abdul Basit
Bandipora, Feb 12: The large scale felling of green gold and other forest flora is going unabated in Bandipora forests as the smugglers have learned to deceive the law enforcing agencies by destroying the evidence in a unique way.
Jungle smugglers continue to loot the forest adopting a long term process of damaging trees. According to Locals in Arin forests the smugglers visit the forest during wee hours and damage a tree trunk and put it on fire so that the fresh cuts are not visible to the forest officials. “This saves smugglers from being noticed by the forest officials and this loot continues unabated,” said a local.
They also blamed forest officials for the loot of green gold adding that the concerned officials hardly visit their beat. “Since lockdown we have hardly seen any forest official in the area that has given a free hand to smugglers,” locals added.
They appealed the Deputy Commissioner to put the forest officials to task and make them accountable for the loss of this valuable resource. Divisional Forest Officer Shabir Ahmad said he has sent the concerned officers to the location to assess the situation.
