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Kupwara March 1: In a first of its kind in Kupwara district a Timber Smuggler is booked under Public Safety Act and sent to Kot Bhalwal Jail.
The Public Safety Act which was meant for Jungle Smugglers in Jammu and Kashmir, as was assured in J&K assembly by the then Chief Minister, Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah, is usually used against political activists and anti-state elements.
As kupwaratimes.com has learnt that Deputy Commissioner Kupwara’s office ordered PSA against one Aijaz Ahmad Khan of Gutlipora village of Hyhama area on 25 of February recommended by Kamraj Forest Division office.
As confirmed by Divisional Forest Officer Kamraj, Kupwara, Zahid Aslam “There were already Four police FIRs and Nine Forest damage cases against Ajaz Ahmad a repeated offender from 2010 till date”.
The smuggler has been sent to Kot Bhalwal Jail booked under PSA.
Interestingly this is the first case of Public Safety Act against any Jungle Smuggler in Kupwara district. Pertinent to mention here Seven people were booked under PSA in smuggling cases in Sopore in Baramula district in 2020 recommended by the same DFO.
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