Over 100 booked for cutting trees in Upper Dir

DIR: The district administration of Upper Dir has lodged cases against over 100 forest offenders who were allegedly involved in cutting of forests in Kumrat and Charkom areas of the district.

Deputy Commissioner Upper Dir Khalid Iqbal Khattak told a press conference on Wednesday that most of them had been put behind bars.

He said cases had been registered against 71offenders under the forest act and 3-MPO who were involved in cutting of trees in a large number in Kumrat. He said a total of 60 offenders had been arrested and put behind bars.

The official said that raids were being made to arrest the remaining 11 offenders in Kumrat.

He said that in Charkom area a total of 60 persons were arrested and six chainsaw machines confiscated from them.

The deputy commissioner said the district administration had banned the use of chainsaw in the district as it cut trees within no time in large numbers.

He said the offenders had felled green trees. He said that a total of 219 trees had been cut only in Kumrat.