FOREST LAND ENCROACHMENT Shopkeepers attack forest team; Forester injured, two arrested
STATE TIMES NEWS
JAMMU: A Forester was critically injured on Monday by a protesting mob during an anti-encroachment drive launched by the Forest Department at Domail on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. Police has arrested two persons in connection with the attack.
The incident took place when Jammu Forest Division carried out the drive at Dami (Domail) in presence of Duty Magistrate and a police team headed by SHO Jhajjar Kotli, said V S Senthil Kumar, Divisional Forest Officer, Jammu.
Forest official Sanjeev Kumar was injured after encroachers hit him with an iron rod during the operation, Kumar said, adding, he was immediately shifted to Government Medical College (GMC) Jammu for treatment.
The two accused, identified as Younis and Hashim Din of Badola, have been arrested. An FIR has been lodged against them for preventing and assaulting the government servants from executing legitimate duty, Kumar said.
Ten shops (tin-sheds) which were raised on forest land along Jammu-Udhampur National Highway were demolished as part of the operation and the whole drive was videographed, Kumar added.
He said the forest land has been placed at the disposal of National Highway Authority of India for four-lanning of National Highway, taking advantage of which encroachers constructed the sheds.
He said due procedure was adopted and ‘Nishandehi’ was conducted a month ago with Revenue Department. Accordingly notices under J&K Forest Act were issued and sufficient time given to encroachers to vacate the land.
He said the material was seized and brought to Jajjar Kotli Nursery. The Forest Department is taking measures to prevent encroachment on forest land and violators will not be spared, Kumar said, adding, the retrieved land will be fenced soon.
The operation was carried out by a forest team comprising 30 members along with anti-encroachment team of Jammu Forest Division under the direct supervision of DFO.
The Forest team was headed by Ghulam Qadir, Range Officer Jindrah and Ajeet Chander, Range Officer Bahu alongwith anti encroachment team of Jammu Forest division under the supervision of Dr. V S Senthil Kumar, Divisional Forest Officer Jammu.
