Three timber smugglers arrested in Dir

DIR: Three timber smugglers were arrested while they were cutting trees in Kohistan valley of Upper Dir district, an official said on Tuesday.

Jehan Zeb, resident of Salam Bailey, Doog Darra, Manawar Khan and Gul Zada, residents of Remin Kass, an area of Upper Kohistan valley, were caught cutting trees in forests of their respective areas and later cases were registered against them.

The accused were sent behind bars after they were found guilty.

Assistant Commissioner Muhammad Saqib Khan said that they had formed a vigilance squad comprising Levies personnel to keep an eye on the timber smugglers. He said the offenders were caught on the information of the same squad.

He said that preservation of natural resources, especially forests, would be ensured at all costs. He said that forests were a national asset and no-one would be allowed to destroy them.

He said that now timber smugglers were targeting forests of faraway areas for cutting fresh trees instead of cutting the trees on roadsides. However, he claimed, the district administration had also made preparations to arrest the smugglers. He warned the timber smugglers to avoid destroying forests, otherwise they would be dealt with strictly according to the law.