Eight Khair trees stolen from Pinjore forest area

PANCHKULA: The district police have booked unknown persons under various sections of the Forest Act 1927 after eight trees were found missing from the forest area of Pinjore.





A complaint in this regard was given by Nanakpur forest block officer Sanjay Jandey. The official told cops that a forest guard posted in Navanagar, Gyan Dev, found eight trees missing when he was patrolling. Dev informed Sanjay, following which forest teams were pressed into action to conduct a search. “We tried to find clues and the missing trees but could not succeed,” Sanjay said.

As of now, the police official, based on a missing report submitted by Sanjay and his complaint, have registered a case under Section 38 (protection of forests) of the Indian Forest Act 1927 and Section 379 (punishment for theft) of the Indian Penal Code at Pinjore police station.

“We have registered the case and are probing the matter,” said station house officer of Pinjore police station, inspector Virender Sharma.

“Khair comes under ‘reserved’ category. One needs to take special permissions from the forest department to cut this tree,” the forest official said.

The tree is known for its medicinal properties and helps in curing skin problems, neck and gums problems, diarrhea, lungs infections. It is also used for leather shining, making ships. The red part of the wood is mainly used for making ‘katha’ — a main ingredient for making ‘pan’. One quintal this tree ranges between Rs 5,000 an Rs 50,000, depending on the demand in the market.