Illegal Timber Operation Busted in Kralagund Handwara, 2 Held

Murtaza Mushtaq

Handwara: Officials on intervening Sunday and Monday night, busted an illegal timber operation and arrested two offenders Kralagund Handwara.

As learnt by Alfaaz – The Words, a police party led by the Station House Officer (SHO) of Police Station Kralagund alongside Forest Department officials conducted a raid based on credible intelligence inputs, at the residence of Nazir Ahmed Najar, son of Ab. Gaffar Najar, a resident of Najar Mohalla, Kralagund, falling under the Gundchobutra block of the Mawar Range.

During the operation, authorities seized a Tata Mobile vehicle bearing registration number JK05B-5741, which was found loaded with 27 illicitly sawn deodar sleepers, amounting to approximately 70 cubic feet of timber.

An FIR has been registered against the house owner, Nazir Ahmed Najar, and the driver of the vehicle, Mudasir Ahmed Bhat, son of Mushtaq Ahmed, resident of Tantragund.

Following the seizure, a special forest contingent accompanied by police forces was dispatched to the location. Upon further inspection, officials discovered two illegal timber processing units — a joinery combo unit and a bandsaw unit — operating within the premises.

Despite resistance from local women attempting to prevent the action, both units were dismantled and transported to the seizure depot in Langate. The seized timber and vehicle remain in the custody of Police Station Kralagund.

Authorities have ordered a thorough investigation into the illegal timber operations. Officials have assured that any lapses at any level will be addressed and those found guilty will be dealt with strictly under the law.

Conservator Forests, North Kashmir Irfan Ali Shah while speaking on the Joint operation said, “We will be conducting more raids and joint checks with JK Police and other agencies and crush the menace of illegal timber operations wherever they are operating. We will be lodging PSAs against habitual offenders. No one is above law and law will take it’s course.”

Further details, including timber seizure records, will be shared in due course as the investigation progresses, the officials said.