Srinagar: Police and excise team on Wednesday seized banned medicinal herbs locally called Tripatri worth lakhs of rupees in Lakhanpur area of Jammu division.
The accused Nasrullah Khan of Halmatpura, Kupwara was arrested and the vehicle, LP Truck, in which the consignment of banned forest produce was being transported was also seized near Toole post in Lakhenpur in Kathua district, official sources said.
The LP Truck, according to sources belonged to Door-Door Company Narwal. A case has been registered against the accused in this regard.
Official sources said that the consignment of herbs weighing about 48 Quintals is estimated to fetch over Rs 55 lakh in the international market.
When contacted Station House Officer (SHO), Police Station Lakhanpur, K D Bhagat said: I am presently busy with an accident incident, will confirm the matter after reaching office.
However, reliable sources said that police is trying to hide the issue with the accused.
Reports said that smugglers of minor forest produce are on prowl in Bungus, Mawar, Nowgam, Machil, K-K Gali, Jummagund ,Rafiabad, Uri, Sheeri, Baramulla and other high altitude areas, particularly in grazing pastures. The government should impose a blanket ban on illegal extraction and smuggling to safeguard the medicinal reserves and green gold, Abdul Gaffar, a local resident of Uri, Baramulla told GNS.
An officer of the Forest Department said the exposed cases of smuggling of medicinal herbs reveal that smugglers do not directly come or send their men for the collection of herbs but they engage local village women including children and nomads in the illegal exercise. This makes it difficult for the department to take appropriate action against them, he said.
Another local resident of Haihama, Kupwara said that smuggling is at peak in the area, but authorities pay no heed to such crimes despite the repeated incidents of smuggling taking place here, he said, adding that there is possibility of close nexus between the officials and smugglers. (GNS)
Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: Join Now
Be Part of Quality Journalism |
Quality journalism takes a lot of time, money and hard work to produce and despite all the hardships we still do it. Our reporters and editors are working overtime in Kashmir and beyond to cover what you care about, break big stories, and expose injustices that can change lives. Today more people are reading Kashmir Observer than ever, but only a handful are paying while advertising revenues are falling fast. |
| ACT NOW |
| MONTHLY | Rs 100 |  |
| YEARLY | Rs 1000 | |
| LIFETIME | Rs 10000 | |
