12 forest officials arrested for illegal tree felling in Chamba

In a swift action, the Chamba police, on intervening night of Monday and Tuesday, arrested 12 forest officials in connection with large scale illegal axing in Chamba forest division that had come to light in November 2014.

Deputy superintendent of police (headquarters) Bir Bahadur Singh has confirmed the arrest of the officials, adding that further information could be given only after the completion of arrest report.

Meanwhile, sources told that the all the 12 officials, one of whom had retired, were summoned to the police station on Monday for interrogation and were later arrested.

Large scale illegal felling of trees in Almi Beat of Chamba forest division had come to light in November 2014 but an inquiry team constituted by government was able to visit the snowbound area only in June 2015. They had submitted the report on July 23, 2015.

The team led by Bir Bahadur had found 1800 trees illegally felled. The state assembly had seen uproarious scenes over the issue.