DROSH: Four persons were arrested for cutting green trees in Compact No 31 and Lot No 685 of the Kamsay area in Arandu Gol on Thursday.

Four people have been arrested in connection with the ruthless deforestation taking place in Arandu, Chitral, after the footage in social media.

— Deputy Commissioner, Lower Chitral (@DCLowerChitral) March 15, 2018

Besides, a security guard deputed in the area was also suspended by the forest department on the directions of the higher authorities in the provincial government. The arrested persons included Qayyum and Abdul Wali. The local people told ChitralToday that a contractor started felling green trees on March 2 by using seven machines and labourers. The local people approached the district forest officer and others but they did not take any action. The locals later complained to the security forces deployed in Arandu who took five persons who were cutting the trees into custody.

However, the forest department did not take any action against them through the police, giving the timber mafia a free hand to continue cutting the trees. The locals of Kansay on Thursday expressed satisfaction over the development and expressed the hope that all those responsible behind the felling of trees would be punished.