Touseef Wani
Ganderbal, Jan 8: Jammu and Kashmir Police in Ganderbal have seized a consignment of illicit timber along with a load carrier and arrested a smuggler following a coordinated operation aimed at curbing illegal timber smuggling in the district.
Officials said that during routine naka checking near Wussan, a police team from Police Station Ganderbal intercepted a suspicious load carrier bearing registration number JK16B 4440. Upon inspection, the vehicle was found carrying eight logs of illegally felled Kail timber. Sensing police presence, the driver abandoned the vehicle and fled from the spot.
A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed that the timber was being transported without any valid permit or legal documentation. The timber and the vehicle were seized on the spot as per law.
Police said a case under FIR number 04 of 2026 was registered at Police Station Ganderbal under Section 303 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 26 of the Forest Act.
On the directions of the Senior Superintendent of Police Ganderbal, a special police team was constituted to trace the accused. After sustained efforts, the team apprehended the accused, identified as Irshad Ahmad Dar, son of Muhammad Qasim Dar, a local of Nilahnajwan area of Kangan. He has been arrested and further investigation is underway.
