The protectors and custodians of forests were seen shielding the timber smugglers in Gund Sana, Hyhama area of North Kashmir’s Kupwara district. The Lumberdar, Sarpanch in written proof confessed about the confiscation of illegal timber but later the forest department changed their statement by telling that the timber was part of the wooden structure which was dismantled later by the owner.
On Tuesday evening around 6.30-9 pm forest department raided the Timber Saw mill and sealed it as it was operational illegal without any NOC from the concerned departments.
Although the raid was welcomed by all the members but the general public were deeply anguished when they found that the illegal timber was lying there but was not confiscated and no FIR was registered in this regard, although illegal saw mill was seized on the spot.
The locals termed the statement of forest department as bundle of lies and questioned how heavy wooden logs can be used in construction of a wooden structure? The document with which mentions the size of wooden logs proves that the forest department is shielding culprits for unknown reasons.
