Protest against indiscriminate felling of trees in Baramulla
Srinagar: In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, dozens of fully grown trees planted by locals were uprooted and buried with a JCB machine in Baba Reshi–Namilnar area of Tangmarg, Baramulla district, triggering protests over forest law violations.
According to Kashmir Media Service, residents said the trees stood on a plot leased out by the Jammu and Kashmir Waqf Board for 30 years, but the lease did not authorize destruction of the green cover.
“They brought a JCB and started uprooting the trees in large numbers. Several were pushed into trenches and buried. We watched helplessly,” local resident Mohammad Ashraf told the media.
“We had planted these trees with our own hands years ago. They were like green gold for us.”
Locals have demanded immediate action and a probe to establish who ordered the demolition.
Police said no communication has been received from the Forest Department yet for registration of an FIR.
