Forest Employee Suspended After Illegal Deodar Timber Seizure in Jammu Kashmir | Kashmir Life

SRINAGAR: A Beat Guard has been suspended after authorities seized a vehicle carrying illegal deodar timber in the Bhadarwah area of Doda district in Jammu and Kashmir.

Officials said that acting on specific information, a joint team of the Forest Protection Force and territorial staff of Neru Range intercepted a TATA Mobile vehicle (registration number JK02B-6463) loaded with 20 deodar green scants measuring 54.44 cubic feet. The seizure was made during the intervening night of April 21 and 22 at village Jalga in Compartment 3/N.

During the operation, the in-charge Beat Guard of Jai 2nd Beat, Mushtaq Ahmed Batt, was also found travelling on the same route in his personal vehicle. A mechanical cutter packed in a bag was recovered from him.

Officials said the exact source of the seized timber is yet to be determined, with investigations underway to ascertain whether it was extracted from Chiralla or Neru Range.

Pending inquiry, the Beat Guard has been placed under suspension with immediate effect and attached to the Divisional Forest Office, Bhadarwah. Authorities have also ordered a detailed probe to identify the origin of the timber and fix responsibility, directing that a report be submitted within a week and further legal action initiated accordingly.