3 timber smugglers arrested in J&K

Three timber smugglers are arrested and 100 cfts timber worth Rs two lakhs is recovered from their possession in Kupwara district.

Three timber smugglers were arrested and 100 cfts timber worth Rs two lakhs was recovered from their possession in Kupwara district.

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Acting on a tip-off, police seized illegal timber from an open field at Kramhoora in Handwara area of the district, Superintendent of Police (Handwara) Dr Haseeb Mughal said.

The trio, Abdul Gaffar Sheikh, Ghulam Ahmad Sheikh and Abdul Jabbar had stolen the timber from compartment number 65 Rajwar, he said, adding a case under section 379 of Ranbir Penal Code and section 6 of Forest Act has been registered against them, Mughal said.

During the last 13 months, police have registered 47 cases against timber smugglers, arrested 112 persons and recovered 3277.10 cfts of timber worth Rs 75 lakhs.

Out of the persons arrested, five notorious timber smugglers have been detained under Public Safety Act (PSA).