2 timber smugglers arrested in Doda; 33 timber scants seized

Two smugglers have been arrested and 33 timber scants seized from their possession in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, police said today.
In a joint operation by police and forest department officials, raids were carried out in Bankaanthawa and Gosti villages of Doda district yesterday in which 33 scants of timber were recovered, Divisional Forest Officer, Bhaderwah, T B Singh said.
He added that police and forest department officials have started a crackdown against the timber mafia and land encroachers in Chirala range.
The DFO did not rule out involvement of forest officials and assured stern action against them if found guilty.

The smugglers, identified as Ravinder Singh of Bankaanthawa and Farooq Ahmed of Gosti area of the district, were taken into custody, police said, adding, 16 timber logs were recovered from Ravinder and 17 from Farooq.
Police said they have registered cases against them and further investigation is underway.
"After making the seizure of the dumped timber, cases were registered in Police Station Thathri and accused persons have been taken into custody for further investigation," SSP Doda Zahid Manhas said.