Srinagar: In North Kashmirs dense Kupwara region, two timber smugglers attacked a forest officer, leaving him severely injured while trying to smuggle illicit timber from the area.
The smugglers were apprehended by the Range Officer Tariq Ahmad Mir in dense forests of Kupwara during the wee hours. Later he was attacked by the group leaving him injured with his vehicle bearing number JK09-8570 damaged.
Later on, after shifting the forest officer to the nearby hospital, the forest squad in the area launched a massive hunt against the smugglers. Latter the two smugglers were arrested and identified as Sona Mir and Nazir Ahamd Magray. They were later handed over to the police which held them at areas concerned police station.
DFO Mohammad Ayub said that the department already had some information about the smugglers trying to plunder the green gold. He added the forest department would crack whip against the smugglers and would fasten its efforts in preserving forests in the area.