Uttarakhand: Encounter between wood smugglers and forest personnel in Haldwani, one smuggler injured, three arrested

An encounter took place between wood smugglers and forest personnel on Sunday in the Tanda range of Terai Central Forest Department of Haldwani. In the retaliatory firing, a smuggler was shot in the leg. He has been admitted to Sushila Tiwari Hospital for treatment.

Precious wood recovered from pickup vehicle

In retaliatory firing, the smugglers also fired on the forest department in which the forest personnel narrowly escaped. The forest department team has arrested three smugglers from the spot. While a large amount of precious wood has been recovered from a pickup vehicle.

Forest department team recovered illegal pistol

The injured smuggler has been identified as Lakhwinder Singh alias Lakku. The forest department team has also recovered a 315 bore illegal pistol from the spot. At present, the forest department has registered a case against the smugglers in Lalkuan police station.

The accused is a cunning forest criminal

Regarding the matter, Forest Area Officer of Tanda Range Rupnarayan Gautam said that the accused Lakhwinder Singh is an old forest criminal. The accused has attacked and injured several forest workers several times in the past. Apart from this, a forest worker was martyred in an encounter in 2019.