Hand in hand: Police blamed for colluding with timber smugglers

SHANGLA:

Residents of Shangla have blamed police officials for failing to curb tree-felling and timber smuggling, accusing some officers of connivance.

“Government officials are directly involved in damaging the natural environment of the green valleys,” said forest owner Taj Muhammad while speaking at a news conference at Shangla Press Club on Friday. He was accompanied by other foresters and people of the area.

Residents of the district complained the provincial government and forest officials had failed to take strict action against the timber mafia.

“The guards of the forest department have direct links with the timber mafia and forest officials are incapable of controlling the damage in the forests,” said Taj. “Not only is the mafia involved in smuggling timber, officials wanted to grab the forest land too.”

Locals also named some of the officials, accusing them of being responsible for deforestation and smuggling. They said they had complained to Shangla’s DPO, but no result came of their concerns.

Residents appealed to the K-P chief minister, chief forest conservator and police officials to take action against those involved in damaging forests.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 31^st, 2014.