Part-II: Cutting green trees, encroachment picks up after minister appeals for preservation

JAMMU: Continuing our news series about the reverse affect of Jammu and Kashmir Forest Ministers appeal for preservation of forests, JK MONITOR after tireless efforts and field work succeeded in capturing several photographs of the damages done in Compartment Number-7 of Block Jangalwar of Forest Range Chiralla, of Forest Division Bhaderwah.

Interestingly, reports suggest that the Beat Guard- Mushtaq Ahmed and Mohammed Rafi responsible for the protection of damages in the area are working against and allegedly after charging some money from the forest smugglers, allow them to cut green trees at choice.

These two Beat Guards allegedly enjoy drinking at Halaran area, and last night when then get over dose of alcohol were given a thrashing by the people in Halaran area (Compartment number 37), when they started acting something which was not tolerable to those people.

The young green trees are cut down by the timber smugglers with the help of Beat Guards and allegedly others in the hierarchy and these smugglers are further advised to destroy the evidance, for which they put the trunks, stems and left out material on fire to destroy evidence.