In Haldwani’s Bhakra Range, smugglers attacked two forest officers on Thursday night, breaking their gun and looting six cartridges. The assailants also vandalized the officers’ bike and mobile phones. Later, the forest department recovered bel fruit sacks hidden in a vacant plot and seized a tractor used in the smuggling. Seven accused have been booked under serious charges.
Forest officers Manoj Kumar Melkani and Mohan Singh Chauhan were patrolling Lamakhaud area when they spotted two bikes and a tractor trolley coming from the forest near Gate No. 27 of the Forest Corporation felling plot. Suspicious of illegal activity, they pursued the vehicles and stopped them near Lamakhaud Pratham Gate, discovering sacks filled with bel fruit. Suddenly, seven smugglers attacked, damaging their bike and phones, and injuring them with sticks.
When officer Mohan Singh attempted to fire his service gun in self-defense, the smugglers snatched and broke it, stealing six cartridges, before fleeing after breaking the checkpoint gate. The officers later found the abandoned tractor and recovered the hidden sacks of bel fruit.
Based on a complaint from Officer Manoj Kumar, Mukhanai police station has registered an FIR against Suraj, Rajkumar, Sanjay, Yuvraj, Jogendra, Rohit, and Rammoorti under charges of assaulting a government officer, using lethal weapons, and damaging public property. All attackers have been identified, and legal action is underway.
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Bel Smuggling Ahead of Mahashivratri
According to the forest department, smugglers were illegally harvesting bel fruit from the forest, intending to supply them to various locations in Uttar Pradesh for the upcoming Mahashivratri festival. However, before they could proceed, the forest department intercepted and seized the consignment.
