PULWAMA: A case has been registered against the timber smugglers for attacking a team of forest officials at Mitrigam village of Romeshi Forest Range in Pulwama on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday.
Talking to Kashmir Reader Chief Conservator Forests south Kashmir, Tawheed Ahmad Deva, said that they have identified the attackers and have started legal action against them.
“An FIR has been registered into the incident and concerned Division Forest Officer (DFO) has identified six timber smugglers who were involved in the attack,” he said, adding that strict action as warranted under law will be taken against them.
Officials said that on 01 May at around 3 am, staffers from the Forest Control Room Pulwama were brutally attacked by a group of timber smugglers when they were on routine night patrolling at Mitrigam village of Pulwama.
They added that the team of forest officials seized illegally cut timber from Takwan village of Keller area at around 1 am.While the officials were returning to Pulwama through Mitrigam, Pulwama, few timber laden horses were spotted and when Forest Control Room Pulwama tried to intercept, they were brutally attacked with stones and sticks, two of the forest officials were beaten to pulp and government vehicle was also damaged by the attackers. Despite being under attack, forest officials succeeded in seizing one horse laden with illicit timber,” the officials said.
They added that Range Officer Romshi called and sought assistance from SHO Pulwama who immediately sent his police party to the spot.
However, the timber smugglers fled from the spot before police.

BILAL HABIB