Caption: Himachal: Forest Department clamps down on well smuggling in Bilaspur (File Photo)
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Dialogue Associate, Bilaspur. Forest Department has taken action against smuggling of Khair in Bilaspur district. The team of Forest Department Bilaspur Sadar caught a pickup vehicle filled with 50 mustaches of Khair late on Wednesday night near Mandi Bharari on Kiratpur-Nerchowk four lane.
Well, while trying to stop smuggling, the driver tried to run over five forest personnel including a range officer and crush them. In this case, three accused residents of Bilaspur district have been arrested.
The Forest Department had received secret information about illegal well cutting in Jhalera forest of Kuddi area. The Forest Department team reached the spot and started monitoring the area. During that time a pickup vehicle was seen passing by and was signaled to stop for inspection.
The driver did not stop the pickup
The driver did not stop the pickup and tried to escape. The driver tried to run over five forest personnel including a range officer. The Forest Department team showed promptness and chased the vehicle.
The pickup driver went to Kiratpur-Nerchowk four lane via Kandraur and started running at high speed in the direction of Chandigarh. The Forest Department team stopped the pickup near Mandi Bharari and upon searching it, wooden spoons made of Khair were recovered.
The value of the recovered wood is estimated to be around Rs 5 lakh. The Forest Department team seized the vehicle and informed the police. The police team reached the spot and started action by taking the matter from the Forest Department.
A case has been registered against the three accused under Forest Act and other related sections. The arrested accused include Ajay Kumar, resident of Ballu of Bilaspur district, Manish Kumar, resident of Dadiana and Mukesh Kumar, resident of Dali. BO Surendra, forest guards Jitendra, Rajneesh and Ankesh were involved in the action of the forest department. The matter has been handed over to the police in which legal action is being taken. -Narendra Singh, Range Officer, Bilaspur Sadar, Forest Department.