Uttarakhand forest department busts gang

Uttarakhand forest department claimed to have busted a gang allegedly involved in the trade of timber and wildlife by arresting 14 of its members from Kishanpur forests near here, official sources said on Monday.

Uttarakhand forest department claimed to have busted a gang allegedly involved in the trade of timber and wildlife by arresting 14 of its members from Kishanpur forests near Haldwani, official sources said on Monday.

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Following a tip-off 14 members of the gang including its kingpin Abid were arrested on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday from Kishanpur jungles by the forest department, they said.

The gang was allegedly involved in illegal trading of timber and wildlife organs, they said. The teams have also seized dozens of horns of some animals from their possession.

On interrogation, Abid told the police that he would engage labourers and pay Rs 500 to each of them for cutting Sagon trees in the jungles and later sell them in Uttar Pradesh.