Seven booked for illegally cutting 70 trees

LUCKNOW - Seven forest officials were booked Friday in Bahraich in Uttar Pradesh for their alleged involvement in the illegal cutting down of trees in the Katarniaghat forest range, police said.

The case was registered against the officials on the directions of Katarniaghat Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) R.K. Singh.

“As of now, I can only reveal that those booked include a sub-divisional officer, foresters and deputy rangers. An enquiry has been initiated against all of them,” Singh told IANS on phone from Bahraich, some 130 km from Lucknow.

An official in the forest department said the seven officials were involved in the illegal cutting of 70 trees of Shisham and Khair.

“Majority of trees that were illegally cut belonged to the Kakraha range of Katarniaghat,” the senior forest official said.

“Police are yet to make any arrest in connection with the illegal cutting of trees,” he added.