Srinagar, Feb 5: The Forest Department has lodged a First Information Report (FIR) against seven individuals from Mamer Kangan, Ganderbal, for assaulting forest officials during a tree plantation initiative.
As reported by the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of Sindh Forest Division, “The incident transpired in compartment 69 of the Sindh Range while the forestry team was conducting plantation activities on an 8-hectare area of forest land.”
This initiative, financed by the Compensatory Afforestation Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA), received approval from the Regional Office of the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change in 2022 as compensation for forest land diverted for the Thune to Badipathri roadway.
The work began in early February but faced interruption due to the accused allegedly inciting local residents to attack the forest team with stones and sticks.
The perpetrators have been charged under sections 115(2) and 132 of the Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita, which address inciting harm and assaulting public servants in the line of duty.
The DFO of the Sindh Forest Division stressed the significance of this project for environmental sustainability and urged local community members to collaborate and engage in constructive dialogue to ensure its peaceful execution.
