Jammu, January 30:
Continuing its crackdown on the illegal timber trade, the Samba Police on Friday intercepted and seized a commercial vehicle transporting a massive haul of illegally harvested ‘Khair’ wooden logs. The timber was reportedly stolen from both state and private land in the Surara forest area.
The operation was carried out by a dedicated team from the Ghagwal Police Station following a tip-off from reliable sources regarding the movement of contraband timber.
The Midnight Catch at Tapyal Naka
Acting on specific intelligence, police personnel established a strategic checkpoint (Naka) on the National Highway at Tapyal.
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The Interception: A Mahindra load carrier (Registration No. JK08F-0119) was flagged down for inspection.
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The Discovery: Upon searching the cargo hold, officers found the vehicle packed with high-value Khair wooden logs.
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The Origin: Preliminary investigations revealed that the logs had been illegally felled and stolen from the Surara area, targeting both government-owned and private properties.
Legal Action and Seizure
The Samba Police have taken strict legal measures to ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice:
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Vehicle Seized: The Mahindra load carrier has been impounded along with the entire timber consignment.
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FIR Registered: A case has been formally registered under FIR No. 13/2026 at Police Station Ghagwal.
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Charges: The case has been filed under Section 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with theft.
Investigation Underway
The police official stated that an investigation has been launched to identify the individuals behind the felling and transportation of the wood. Authorities are looking into whether this is part of a larger timber smuggling syndicate operating in the Ghagwal-Surara belt.
