Kathua Forest Division Foils Two More Smuggling Bids, Intercepts Trucks with Timber and Firewood Beyond Permitted Zones; Officer Highlights Threat of Illegal Felling and Cross-Border Transit Violations
- Kathua Forest Division, under the decisive command of DFO Ankit Sinha, IFS, has seized 18 vehicles for illegal forest produce transportation since July 22, 2025, with two more trucks intercepted carrying timber and firewood overnight on October 15-16.
- The latest operations foiled attempts to smuggle Simbal logs (JK02BB-8177) and mixed firewood (PB09X-2768), exposing brazen violations of transit rules, including a Supreme Court ban and attempts to divert produce beyond permitted destinations into Punjab.
- DFO Ankit Sinha revealed a comprehensive strategy, stating the department has mapped all encroached forest land from the last five years and will soon launch a joint drive with police and administration for retrieval, while also appealing for public support to curb illegal felling and protect the environment.
JJ CORRESPONDENT
Jammu, Oct 16: In a relentless and increasingly effective campaign against the rampant illegal exploitation of its precious green cover, the Kathua Forest Division, under the dynamic leadership of Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Ankit Sinha, IFS, has seized a staggering 18 vehicles involved in illegal forest produce transportation since July 22, 2025 – his very joining date. The anti-smuggling drive intensified overnight with the interception of two more trucks, loaded with timber and firewood, pushing the total seizures in less than three months to a significant figure. DFO Sinha has vowed to expand this war, promising a joint drive with the police and administration to reclaim all encroached forest land.
The latest operations unfolded dramatically on the intervening night of October 15 and 16, 2025. At around 1:50 AM, a team from the Kathua Forest Range, comprising Sh. Tariq (Sr. Forest Guard) and Sh. Abhi Jasrotia, led by Range Officer Sh. Narinder Kumar, intercepted a truck (Registration No. JK02BB-8177) near Mehta Palace, Kalibari on the National Highway. The vehicle was found loaded with Simbal logs. The driver, Kuldeep Raj, produced a transit permit issued from Kalidhar Range for Jammu, but investigations revealed the truck had illegally crossed nearly 80 kilometers beyond its permitted destination. The vehicle and timber were seized under Sections 52(1) and 52(2) of the Indian Forest Act, 1927, for violating J&K Forest Produce Transit Rules, 2020, and the Supreme Court’s ban on timber export from J&K.
In a separate operation at 2:45 AM, Team No. 04 of Jasrota Forest Range, led by Ashish Kumar (Block Officer, Dinga Amb Block) along with Sh. Mohinder Pal Dogra (Forest Guard) and others, seized another truck (Registration No. PB09X-2768) carrying mixed firewood at Seshwan Morh on the National Highway. This operation was conducted under the supervision of Range Officer Jasrota, Sh. Munish Gupta. Both operations were under the overall command of DFO Kathua, Sh. Ankit Sinha, IFS. The seized vehicles and forest produce have been shifted to Hariachak Nursery for further legal action.
Speaking about these relentless efforts, DFO Ankit Sinha confirmed to Jammu Jottings, his uncompromising stance against forest crimes. He revealed that his department has meticulously prepared a detailed report mapping all forest land that has been encroached upon in the last five years. “We will soon launch a joint drive with the administration and police to retrieve all such encroached areas. Without the help of the police and administration, we cannot effectively reclaim this land,” DFO Sinha emphasized, underscoring the need for inter-departmental synergy.
DFO Sinha also highlighted the menace of illegal transit of forest produce, particularly firewood, which is often permitted only up to Jammu but then illegally transported across Lakhanpur into Punjab. He appealed for a coordinated approach among all DFOs in Jammu to discuss and establish a robust system to track and prevent such transit violations. “Every concerned DFO should have clear details of which vehicle has permission for which destination,” he stressed, advocating for a more streamlined and effective monitoring mechanism.
The DFO also vowed to crack down on illegal felling of Khair and other trees, which severely damages the environment. “We are keeping a close watch on those involved in illegal felling. They will not be spared, and strict action will be taken,” he warned. He appealed to the public to act as vigilant partners, urging them to provide information to the department about anyone illegally felling trees or damaging forest land, assuring them that their identity would be kept confidential and stringent action would be taken against offenders. This comprehensive approach, combining rigorous enforcement, inter-departmental cooperation, and public awareness, signals DFO Ankit Sinha’s determination to protect Kathua’s invaluable forest wealth.
