The Forest Protection Force (FPF) Handwara has seized illicit timber from a saw mill in Kupwara’s Kulangam area, leading to the suspension of two forest department officials, including a Block Forest Officer, for negligence.
Officials said a special FPF team carried out the raid during the intervening night of September 17 and 18 under the supervision of Deputy Director FPF Manzoor Ahmad and Additional Deputy Commissioner Handwara Manmeet Singh.
During the operation, six logs of Deodar timber, measuring 59 cubic feet, were recovered from a Band Saw Mill allegedly set up to process smuggled forest produce. The timber is suspected to have originated from Nowgam Block in the Mawar forest area.
The Forest Department has suspended Block Forest Officer Najam Saqib and Forest Guard Abdul Majeed, both posted in Range Kandi of Kamraj Forest Division, under order number 149 of 2025 FD/CFM/Estt/2025/15 51-55.
“The protection of green cover is a collective responsibility, and our teams are working day and night to check the menace of timber smuggling,” an FPF official said, adding that the entire stock has been taken into custody for further investigation.
Locals welcomed the crackdown and called for sustained vigilance, warning that the illegal timber trade continues to endanger Kupwara’s forest wealth.
The department has urged the public to share information on any suspicious activities involving forest produce, assuring strict action against violators.
