Cops to grill Khair wood smuggler

AMBALA: A local court on Monday sent a person accused of smuggling khair wood to three-day police remand with Naraingarh CIA of the district.
The accused, identified as Suresh Kumar alias Kala, is a resident of Kot village in Chandimandir area of Panchkula district.
On Friday, in a joint operation, forest and police officials had seized a Mahindra Pick-up vehicle loaded with around 25 quintals khair wood in Bharog village of Ambala district.The accused had managed to flee from the spot.
Following the recovery, a case was lodged under Section 32 (power to make rules for protected forests) and 33 (penalties for acts in contravention of notification under section 30 or of rules under section 32) of the Indian Forest Act and 379 (punishment for theft) of the Indian Penal Code was registered at Panjokhra police station.
Patvi area forest guard Sheoram told the police, "On Friday we received the tip-off from forest protection watcher that some persons have axed khair trees from Bharog Section 4-5 jungle. We planned a joint operation and seized a Mahindra pick-up vehicle loaded with khair wood. The accused smugglers managed to flee due to darkness." Police said Kala was arrested for his involvement in axing and smuggling 12 khair trees weighing 25 quintals from the forest area of Bharog village.