Ganderbal 22 May (KNS): Locals apprehended three forest department employees including a forester along with Illicit Timber here in the Arhama area of central Kashmir's Ganderbal district on Friday.

Sources told Kashmir News Service (KNS) that a Forester namely Riyaz Ahmad along with two casual labourers of the forest department took illicit timber from a compartment here in Arhama forest. 

Sources further said they took the illicit timber in Alto Car bearing registration Number JK16A/6021 and were going to be sold it at another place. 

Accordingly, locals saw the Car laden with illicit timber and they immediately caught these employees and Informed Ganderbal Police. 

As soon as Police Received information, they immediately reached the spot and arrested all the forest employees along with Illicit Timber and took Alto Car into their custody. 

Meanwhile, police sources said that the FIR has been lodged in Police Station Ganderbal and further investigation has been taken up.

When Kashmir News service contacted DFO Ganderbal Mir Owais Farooq for his comments but he didn't respond to our phone calls.(KNS)