Six Trucks Loaded with Illegal Wooden Logs Seized in Kathua’s Hiranagar
Sarvjeet Singh
Kathua,(DD) In a daring and well-coordinated operation, the Special Branch of Kathua Police successfully intercepted six trucks loaded with illegally felled wooden logs near the Jammu-Punjab border in Hiranagar’s Korepunnu area. The operation, carried out late last night, thwarted a major smuggling attempt and prevented the illegal transportation of timber worth lakhs of rupees to Pathankot, Punjab.
Acting on specific intelligence inputs, the Special Branch team set up a surprise naka (checkpoint) in Korepunnu, a known interior smuggling route used to bypass security checks. The police sources revealed that the smugglers had planned to use this less-monitored pathway to avoid detection while transporting illegally axed logs from hilly regions of J&K.
“These trucks were taking an interior route to evade detection, but our team successfully intercepted them. All six vehicles, loaded with wooden logs, were brought to the nearest police station for further legal action,” a police official said.
Forest Department to Take Over Investigation
Following the seizure, the Forest Department was immediately informed, and officials are set to take over the custody of the confiscated timber to launch a detailed investigation into the illegal felling of trees. The preliminary probe suggests that large numbers of trees were illegally chopped down in forested regions before being transported for sale outside J&K.
The drivers of the six trucks have also been taken into custody, and authorities are probing their links to a larger smuggling network.
Rampant Smuggling on Jammu-Punjab Border
This latest seizure highlights the ongoing issue of smuggling along the Jammu-Punjab border, which has been a hotspot for the illegal transportation of wood, cattle, narcotics, cash, and other contraband. Security agencies have consistently tightened surveillance, resulting in multiple successful operations against smuggling activities in the region.
Authorities have reiterated their commitment to curbing illegal logging and other illicit activities in the border areas.
“Such operations will continue, and we will ensure strict action against those involved in smuggling and environmental destruction,” a senior police officer stated.
With further investigations underway, officials are working to identify the masterminds behind the illegal timber trade and dismantle the networks involved in forest plundering and environmental exploitation in Jammu and Kashmir.(DD)
