Bid to smuggle timber foiled

MANSEHRA: The police have seized a huge quantity of high-quality timber being smuggled to Punjab from forests in Battal and its adjoining localities.

“We have seized around 500 feet of high-quality timber being smuggled to Punjab from here through Karakoram Highway,” Fahad Shah, the SHO Battal Police Station, told reporters.He said that on the tip-off that a truck loaded with high-quality timber was intercepted on the KKH, which were being transported to Punjab.

“We intercepted a 10-wheeler truck at Chinar area of Battal and seized wooden beams which were being smuggled to Punjab,” Shah said.He added that the truck was fully loaded with wooden beams and to escape it’s checking the upper row was filled with fruit boxes.

District Police Officer Shafiullah Khan Gandapur has issued special directions to force the government to take strict legal action against timber smuggling.Meanwhile, the police in Shinkiari seized a huge cache of contraband during a raid and arrested two narcotics peddlers.A police team, led by SHO Anis Khan, raided a house and seized over 5 kgs of charas and 65 grams of ice. Two persons identified as Zain Siraj and Behram Sheikh were arrested.