In a significant crackdown on the wood mafia, the Forest Department and local police have seized a truck carrying 460 illegal khair logs in the Sadhaura area of Yamunanagar district. The operation was carried out following a specific tip-off regarding the movement of timber to Punjab.
The Operation Details
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The Interception: Acting on intelligence received by the Dadupur beat in-charge, a joint team of forest guards and police set up a checkpoint near Sadhaura. The team successfully intercepted the truck (which was attempting to smuggle the wood to Punjab) at around 5:40 AM.
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The Accused: The driver and his accomplice, identified as Noor Mohammad (alias Kala) and Rakeeb (alias Bhura)—both residents of Jatanwala village—managed to abandon the vehicle and flee the spot during the interception.
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The Seizure: The truck was found loaded with 460 logs of khair wood (Acacia catechu), a protected species highly valued for making ‘kattha’. The occupants had no valid permits for the timber.
Legal Action A case has been registered against the accused under the Indian Forest Act, the Wild Life (Protection) Act, and the Punjab Land Preservation Act at the Vyaspur police station.
“We are making all efforts to stop the illegal felling and transportation of khair in the district. This drive shall continue in the future too,” said the Range Forest Officer, reaffirming the department’s commitment to protecting the Shivalik forest belt.
