Another illicit felling case detected in Chamba

Chamba, December 8

Soon after the large-scale illicit felling case of 101 trees, including 88 deodar and 13 fir trees, detected in the Chandruni forest of Ahlmi beat in Chamba forest range recently, another case of illicit felling of 29 deodar trees has also come to light in Rupni and Sikari forests of Chamba district.

A police handout issued here today divulged that a case of illicit felling had been registered at Tissa police station under the repellent sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Indian Forest Act.

The case was registered on a complaint of Forest Range Officer Masroond, the police report stated.

In his complaint, the range officer had stated that when a team of officials of the Forest Department toured the Rupni and Sikari forests, the illicit felling of 29 deodar trees was detected, the report told.

The report said the value of these illicitly felled deodar trees had been put at Rs.15,34,474 according to the damage report of the Forest Department. The investigation in this case was being conducted by Sub-Divisional Police Officer, Salooni, Ajay Rana, the report said, adding that investigation was underway.—OC