NEELUM VALLEY (Kashmir English): Range Officer Malik Tahir Hamid of the Keran Forest Division led a successful Illegal furniture wood seizure in Neelum, in the Bandi Range, specifically in the area of Sandok where a hidden wood industry operating inside a residential home was uncovered.
According to the sources, from the site, authorities confiscated finished furniture items worth over Rs5 million.
The seized items included wardrobes, double beds, dining tables, dressing tables, and more than 300 processed cedar wood pieces. All the materials have now been taken into official custody.
This illegal furniture seizure in Neelum has been widely praised by the local community. Residents expressed admiration for Malik Tahir Hamid’s firm stance, calling him a pride of the nation.
Malik Tahir Hamid had previously been known for his dedicated protection of “green gold”, a reference to the region’s valuable forests.
Locals further noted that this latest action in the Sandok area was a significant blow to forest thieves and the timber mafia. The public has expressed full support for such actions, stressing that they help safeguard Neelum’s precious natural resources.
Many believe that without strong efforts like this illegal furniture seizure in Neelum, deforestation would continue to rise unchecked, severely damaging both wildlife and the region’s tourism.
According to residents, illegal logging by the mafia has already led to a sharp decline in forest animals and birds.
They pointed out that deforestation plays a negative role in Neelum’s tourism, as most travellers come to admire the area’s many trees. Since Neelum Valley is known widely as a tourist attraction for its beauty, this is a very problematic threat.
This successful raid on illegal furniture in Neelum proves that keeping a close eye on forests and quickly stopping environmental crime is very important. People living in the area wish the conservation efforts will help the region preserve its natural beauty.
