Chamba: Forest Dept seizes deodar timber worth lakhs, 3 held

The Forest Department has seized two vehicles, confiscated deodar timber worth several lakh of rupees and arrested three individuals for smuggling. A team, led by Range Officer Abdul Hamid, set up a checkpoint near Chakoli Bridge on the Langera-Chamba road, where they seized two vehicles carrying illegal timber late on Wednesday night.

The first vehicle was stopped around midnight, and upon inspection, 98 deodar frames were recovered. The occupants, Ashok Kumar, Baldev Ram and Sunil Kumar, failed to produce valid documents for the timber. A complaint was lodged at the Kihar police station against them for timber smuggling and assaulting forest personnel. A few hours later, another pickup truck carrying 84 deodar planks was stopped. Although the driver presented bills for the timber, the department seized the vehicle as transporting timber at night is prohibited.

The authorities have ordered an inspection of the stock at the timber depot concerned from where the wood was sourced. Depending on the investigation’s findings, the vehicle and timber may be released after imposing a fine or a police case may be registered. Divisional Forest Officer, Churah, Sushil Kumar Guleria confirmed the action, stating that two vehicles carrying illegal timber had been seized and three individuals had been booked.

Salooni SDPO Ranjan Sharma said a case has been registered against the accused under Sections 303, 132, 121, 352, and 351 of the IPC and the Indian Forest Act and further investigations are underway.