DETAINED FOR ILLEGAL CULTIVATION OF CARDAMOM ON FOREST LAND
GANGTOK, August 02: Forest Department officials today arrested five persons from Bhushuk, East Sikkim for engaging in illegal cultivation of black cardamom in reserved forest areas.
Acting on a tip off, following, the Forest Departmental officials today carried out a raid and arrested the five persons without warrant under Section 70 of the Forest Act.
Those arrested include Raju Chettri, Tshering Sherpa, Wangchuk Sherpa, Gyan Bahadur Tamang and Dil Bahadur Tamang, all residents of Bhushuk area under Assam Lingey constituency.
The raid was carried out at the initiative of ACF, Nambi Tshering Bhutia, Range Officer (Ranipool) BL Bhattarai accompanied by other forest personals.
The Chief Conservator of Forest, CS Rao informed to media that the persons have been arrested under Section 20 of the Sikkim Forest Water Courses and Road Reserved Preservation and Protection Act (against illegal clearing of forest area for non-forestry purpose). The said persons had reportedly cleared up the forestland up to 5 hectares and using the land for black cardamom culvitation.
The main culprit, Raju Chettri had hired the other four persons to clear up the forest area and was engaged in massive cardamom cultivation since last three days. The alleged persons were produced before the court of Judicial Magistrate today and sentenced to 15 days judicial remand in Rongyek Jail, Mr. Rao.
If found guilty, the accused persons are likely to be sentenced with 7 years of imprisonment and fined Rs 20,000. The entire Bhushuk range has been identified as reserved forest area and any kind of grazing or felling of trees is strictly prohibited here.
Acting on a tip off, following, the Forest Departmental officials today carried out a raid and arrested the five persons without warrant under Section 70 of the Forest Act.
Those arrested include Raju Chettri, Tshering Sherpa, Wangchuk Sherpa, Gyan Bahadur Tamang and Dil Bahadur Tamang, all residents of Bhushuk area under Assam Lingey constituency.
The raid was carried out at the initiative of ACF, Nambi Tshering Bhutia, Range Officer (Ranipool) BL Bhattarai accompanied by other forest personals.
The Chief Conservator of Forest, CS Rao informed to media that the persons have been arrested under Section 20 of the Sikkim Forest Water Courses and Road Reserved Preservation and Protection Act (against illegal clearing of forest area for non-forestry purpose). The said persons had reportedly cleared up the forestland up to 5 hectares and using the land for black cardamom culvitation.The main culprit, Raju Chettri had hired the other four persons to clear up the forest area and was engaged in massive cardamom cultivation since last three days. The alleged persons were produced before the court of Judicial Magistrate today and sentenced to 15 days judicial remand in Rongyek Jail, Mr. Rao.
If found guilty, the accused persons are likely to be sentenced with 7 years of imprisonment and fined Rs 20,000. The entire Bhushuk range has been identified as reserved forest area and any kind of grazing or felling of trees is strictly prohibited here.
