FIR to be lodged for axing trees

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 17

Adopting zero tolerance towards the axing of trees in the state, the Forest Department has started lodging FIRs with the police against the people indulging in this activity to ensure stringent punishment to them.

Conservator of Forests Satnam Singh and Divisional Forest Officer Vikram Singh Kundra said on the directions of Forest Minister Sadhu Singh Dharmsot, the department had geared up to check the illegal felling of trees in the range.

They said on August 13, the department had busted a gang involved in the cutting of trees after they were caught felling a tree illegally. They said the gang had planned to axe 11 trees in the range, but due to the strict vigil of the department, they were caught cutting the first one only.

The officers further said that acting swiftly, the department had got an FIR registered with the police in the Bilga police station under Sections 379 and 511 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 33 of the Indian Forest Act 1927. The department had also seized the equipment used by the gang to fell trees. The officers said eight persons deployed by the gang to fell the trees had admitted that they were hired by a contractor to axe the trees.

Based on the statement of these eight persons, an FIR had been registered against the head of the gang Harbhans Singh of Boparai village. The police said that the kingpin had been arrested by the police. The officials said shunning the practice of compounding such erring persons, the department had now decided to initiate police action against the defaulters.

Forest Range Officer Davinder Pal Singh was also present on the occasion.