The incident took place when Jammu Forest Division was carrying out the drive at Dami (Domail) in presence of duty magistrate and police headed by SHO Jajjer Kotli, said V S Senthil Kumar, Divisional Forest Officer, Jammu.
Forest official Sanjeev Kumar was injured after encroachers hit him with an iron rod during the operation, Kumar said, adding, he was immediately shifted to Government Medical College Jammu for treatment.
The two accused, identified as Younis and Hashim Din of Badola, have been arrested. An FIR has been lodged against them for preventing and assaulting the government servant from executing legitimate duty, Kumar said.
He said the forest land was diverted to National Highway Authority of India for four-lanning of national highway, taking advantage of which encroachers constructed the sheds.
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He said due procedure was adopted and 'nishandehi' was conducted a month ago with Revenue Department. Accordingly notices under J&K Forest Act were issued and sufficient time given to encroachers to vacate the land.
The material was seized and brought to Jajjar Kotli Nursery. The Forest Department is taking measures to prevent encroachment on forest land and violators will not be spared, Kumar said, adding, the retrieved land will be fenced soon.
Minister for Social Welfare, Forests, Ecology and Environment Bali Bhagat had yesterday exhorted Forest officials to act tough on encroachers and timber smugglers, saying strenuous efforts should be made to preserve the green wealth of the state.